Edward
From: Ofcom
Date: Thu, Feb 13, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Subject: Ofcom pioneers sharing of upper 6 GHz spectrum between mobile and Wi-Fi services
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No images? Click here Ofcom pioneers sharing of upper 6 GHz spectrum between mobile and Wi-Fi servicesOfcom has today published proposals for upper 6 GHz spectrum to be made available and shared between mobile and Wi-Fi services. The UK is spearheading efforts to explore the sharing of upper 6 GHz by these two different technologies, which should bring benefits to the economy, and has also been promoting this approach internationally. This new spectrum would provide a large increase in capacity for both mobile and Wi-Fi services, laying the foundations for future generations of data-hungry technologies, such as virtual and augmented reality, and AI. In a boost for the economy, it would also help mobile and Wi-Fi providers to deliver improved services to more customers, especially where demand is greatest. It would support advanced Wi-Fi for homes, businesses and industry, and enable mobile networks to better serve their customers, particularly in the most crowded places like high streets or stadiums. Sharing the band should provide greater overall benefits to the UK, helping both services cope with the increase in traffic volumes, and create further opportunities for innovation, growth and investment. Under the proposals, mobile and Wi-Fi technology would need to integrate better in the future, for example with mechanisms where Wi-Fi would ‘sense’ the presence of a mobile network and react, leading to better services overall. ProposalsFor the upper part of the band (6425-7125 MHz), we propose that the spectrum be shared between providers of commercial mobile and Wi-Fi services. We would do this in two phases: Phase 1: allow low power indoor Wi-Fi across the whole of the Upper 6 GHz band as quickly as possible, ideally before the end of 2025. Phase 2: also authorise mobile to use the band, linked to the outcome of discussions at a European level on harmonising how the band is used, which we expect to finish by 2027. European harmonisation would see sharing of 6 GHz by mobile and Wi-Fi across the continent, and will help manufacturers, operators, and users have the confidence to invest in equipment and services for the band, which we are keen to encourage. Separately, in the lower part of the 6 GHz band (5925-6425 MHz), we are also proposing to allow outdoor and higher power Wi-Fi to operate under the control of an automated database to protect other users from interference. At present, Wi-Fi in this band is limited to low power indoor use only. This change would help bring advanced, high-quality Wi-Fi to university campuses, hospitals, railway stations, industrial complexes and sports stadiums, as well as typical broadband services to rural customers. We are consulting on our proposals and welcome feedback by 8 May 2025. Ofcom yn arloesi rhannu sbectrwm 6 GHz uchaf rhwng gwasanaethau symudol a Wi-FiMae Ofcom wedi cyhoeddi cynigion heddiw i ddarparu sbectrwm 6 GHz uchaf rhwng gwasanaethau symudol a Wi-Fi. Mae’r DU yn arwain ymdrechion i archwilio’r broses o rannu 6 GHz uchaf rhwng y ddwy dechnoleg wahanol hyn, a ddylai ddod â manteision i’r economi, ac mae hefyd wedi bod yn hyrwyddo’r dull hwn yn rhyngwladol. Byddai’r sbectrwm newydd hwn yn rhoi llawer mwy o gapasiti i wasanaethau symudol a Wi-Fi, gan osod y sylfeini ar gyfer cenedlaethau’r dyfodol o dechnolegau sy’n llyncu data, fel realiti rhithwir ac estynedig, a deallusrwydd artiffisial. Mewn hwb i’r economi, byddai hefyd yn helpu darparwyr ffonau symudol a Wi-Fi i ddarparu gwell gwasanaethau i ragor o gwsmeriaid, yn enwedig lle mae’r galw mwyaf. Byddai’n cefnogi Wi-Fi uwch i gartrefi, i fusnesau ac i ddiwydiant, ac yn galluogi rhwydweithiau symudol i wasanaethu eu cwsmeriaid yn well, yn enwedig yn y mannau mwyaf prysur fel y stryd fawr neu stadia. Dylai rhannu’r band arwain at ragor o fanteision cyffredinol i’r DU, gan helpu’r ddau wasanaeth i ymdopi â’r cynnydd mewn traffig, a chreu rhagor o gyfleoedd ar gyfer arloesi, twf a buddsoddiad. O dan y cynigion, byddai angen i dechnoleg Wi-Fi a symudol integreiddio’n well yn y dyfodol, er enghraifft gyda mecanweithiau lle byddai Wi-Fi yn ‘synhwyro’ presenoldeb rhwydwaith symudol ac yn ymateb, gan arwain at wasanaethau gwell yn gyffredinol. CynigionAr gyfer rhan uchaf y band (6425-7125 MHz), rydym yn cynnig rhannu’r sbectrwm rhwng darparwyr gwasanaethau symudol a Wi-Fi masnachol. Byddem yn gwneud hyn mewn dau gam: Cam 1: caniatáu Wi-Fi dan do pŵer isel ar draws y band 6 GHz Uchaf i gyd cyn gynted â phosibl, yn ddelfrydol cyn diwedd 2025. Cam 2: awdurdodi gwasanaethau symudol i ddefnyddio’r band hefyd, yn gysylltiedig â chanlyniad trafodaethau ar lefel Ewropeaidd ar gysoni sut mae’r band yn cael ei ddefnyddio, rydym yn disgwyl gorffen hyn erbyn 2027. Byddai cysoni Ewropeaidd yn golygu rhannu 6 GHz rhwng gwasanaethau symudol a Wi-Fi ar draws y cyfandir, a bydd yn helpu gweithgynhyrchwyr, gweithredwyr a defnyddwyr i gael yr hyder i fuddsoddi mewn offer a gwasanaethau ar gyfer y band, yr ydym yn awyddus i’w hannog. Ar wahân, yn rhan isaf y band 6 GHz (5925-6425 MHz), rydym hefyd yn cynnig caniatáu i Wi-Fi pŵer uwch ac awyr agored weithredu o dan reolaeth cronfa ddata awtomataidd i ddiogelu defnyddwyr eraill rhag ymyriant. Ar hyn o bryd, mae Wi-Fi yn y band hwn wedi’i gyfyngu i ddefnydd pŵer isel dan do yn unig. Byddai'r newid hwn yn helpu i ddod â Wi-Fi o ansawdd uchel i gampysau prifysgolion, ysbytai, gorsafoedd trenau, canolfannau diwydiannol a stadia chwaraeon, yn ogystal â gwasanaethau band eang nodweddiadol i gwsmeriaid gwledig. Rydym yn ymgynghori ar ein cynigion ac yn croesawu adborth erbyn 8 Mai 2025. Latest newsFollow OfcomWhat is Ofcom?Ofcom is the independent regulator and competition authority for the UK communications industries. We have responsibilities across television, radio, video on demand, telecoms, wireless communications and postal services. News releases and other resources for journalists are available on our website. Our third-party email service stores your personal data outside the EU/UK and uses cookies to measure engagement with our email updates. Cookies help us to improve our service. See our cookies policy. You can check whether you have accepted these tracking cookies and opt out by managing your preferences. You can choose which email updates you receive by managing your preferences or you can unsubscribe from all email updates. © Ofcom 2025 |
Karen (KNM) Mulberry Senior Manager, Technology Policy +1 303-668-8855 | standards.ieee.org | |
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