A dispute over the upper 6 GHz spectrum allocation between wireless internet advocates and telecommunications companies has intensified ahead of a European Union Radio Spectrum Policy Group decision scheduled for Tuesday, November 12. The Wi-Fi Alliance and Dynamic Spectrum Alliance submitted an open letter to EU digital ministers after Germany reversed its position to support mobile operators seeking exclusive access to frequencies between 6425 and 7125 megahertz.
Current EU regulations restrict consumer 6 GHz wireless internet equipment to indoor operation using channels from 5945 to 6425 megahertz, providing only three 160-megahertz or two overlapping 320-megahertz channel configurations compared to seven and three non-overlapping groups, respectively, available in the United States. The advocacy organizations contend that assigning additional spectrum to cellular providers, who already control multiple frequency ranges offering superior speed and coverage, would unnecessarily constrain wireless internet capacity for businesses and venues, despite strict European transmit power limitations already reducing consumer router range to one or two rooms.
Current EU regulations restrict consumer 6 GHz wireless internet equipment to indoor operation using channels from 5945 to 6425 megahertz, providing only three 160-megahertz or two overlapping 320-megahertz channel configurations compared to seven and three non-overlapping groups, respectively, available in the United States. The advocacy organizations contend that assigning additional spectrum to cellular providers, who already control multiple frequency ranges offering superior speed and coverage, would unnecessarily constrain wireless internet capacity for businesses and venues, despite strict European transmit power limitations already reducing consumer router range to one or two rooms.
