A coalition of Europe’s leading telecom operators has issued a compelling appeal to EU policymakers, warning that the continent’s digital competitiveness hinges on urgent access to the full upper 6 GHz band for mobile use.
With the global race to deploy 6G networks accelerating, the decision over how to allocate this crucial slice of the spectrum will determine whether Europe remains a leader or becomes a laggard in next-generation connectivity.
Twelve major network providers – spanning Vodafone, BT, Deutsche Telekom, Orange, Telefónica, and others – have called for the complete allocation of the 6.425–7.125 GHz frequency range to mobile networks.
The operators argue that this is the only spectrum block immediately suitable for delivering high-capacity, high-speed 6G services across the continent.
They caution that without decisive action, Europe risks bottlenecking its digital infrastructure, undermining future economic growth, and losing control over its technological sovereignty.
The letter emphasises the long-term consequences of spectrum decisions made today, particularly as mobile traffic volumes soar and existing spectrum allocations near their limits.
As Europe prepares for the next wave of digital transformation, the 6 GHz band has emerged as a make-or-break opportunity.
6 GHz band: The bedrock of Europe’s 6G future
The upper 6 GHz band is widely regarded as a vital enabler of 6G networks, offering the bandwidth needed for data-intensive applications such as augmented reality, smart industry, autonomous mobility, and digital health.
These use cases demand large, contiguous blocks of mid-band spectrum capable of supporting both dense urban deployments and wide-area coverage.
Telecom experts believe that 6G will require at least 600 MHz of spectrum to function efficiently. The upper 6 GHz band is the only currently viable frequency range that meets this requirement in time for commercial rollout, expected by the end of the decade.
Allocating anything less, they argue, would make initial 6G implementations in Europe technically and economically unfeasible.
A narrowing window of opportunity
The urgency behind the call stems from the rapidly growing demand for mobile capacity, especially in Europe’s cities.
Telecom operators project that urban networks could reach saturation by 2030, driven by ever-increasing data usage from consumers and businesses alike. If spectrum resources are not expanded soon, existing frequencies will be consumed by 5G services alone, leaving no room to launch 6G.
Policy bodies like the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) have considered alternative options, including new spectrum identification at the 2027 World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-27).
However, strategic restrictions already in place make this path unlikely to deliver timely results. This leaves the upper 6 GHz band as Europe’s only realistic route to launching 6G within the next five years.
Spectrum clash with Wi-Fi advocates
The battle over the 6 GHz band is not merely technical – it is also political. US technology companies have lobbied to open more of the band for unlicensed Wi-Fi use.
However, European telecom leaders note that nearly 500 MHz in the lower 6 GHz band has already been designated for Wi-Fi in Europe and remains underutilised. They argue that expanding Wi-Fi into the upper band is both unnecessary and harmful to Europe’s long-term strategic interests.
Moreover, since telecom operators are also the principal providers of Wi-Fi services across the continent, they dismiss claims of a looming Wi-Fi spectrum shortage as unfounded.
Europe’s digital leadership at stake
The telecom industry’s call to action aligns with broader concerns about Europe’s declining influence in global tech standards and infrastructure.
Without access to the upper 6 GHz band, Europe would become dependent on technologies and standards set elsewhere, eroding its ability to shape the digital future on its own terms.
Backed by chief technology officers from twelve of Europe’s most prominent telecom groups, the message to EU decision-makers is firm: act now to allocate the upper 6 GHz band for mobile use, or risk missing the 6G revolution.
The window for leadership is closing fast, and the consequences of delay could define Europe’s digital trajectory for decades to come.
