Everyone’s talking about 6G these days. From Huawei to Samsung, the tech giants are already diving headfirst into what promises to be the next wave of wireless innovation. Industry whispers and bold predictions peg the commercial rollout sometime in the 2030s, but in Europe, the start line might be pushed back.
Earlier this year, a coalition of major mobile operators—Orange, Vodafone, Telefónica, BT Group and others under the GSMA umbrella—sent a pointed letter to the European Commission. They warned that if regulators don’t free up key slices of the 6 GHz band, Europe could fall behind in the global 6G race.
The 6 GHz Band: The Ultimate Battlefield
Right now, the 6 GHz frequencies are divvied up between Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 networks in Europe, the U.S., South Korea and Saudi Arabia. But there’s been a fierce tug-of-war for those airwaves. As the French spectrum watchdog ANFR noted last year, the mobile and Wi-Fi communities have been locked in a “four-year battle” over who controls this precious real estate.
Telcos argue they need the upper slice—6 425 to 7 125 MHz—to build a robust 6G network. That mid-band range is a sweet spot: it strikes a nice balance between high data speeds and wide area coverage. On the Wi-Fi side, equipment makers and enterprise users want to keep the lower half—5 925 to 6 425 MHz—to supercharge Wi-Fi 6E and emerging Wi-Fi 7 gear.
Last month, the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) put out a preliminary report. It basically said Europe could squeak out some 6G spectrum in the 7 125–7 250 MHz segment, but the upper 6 GHz block still needs a decision. Mobile carriers are fed up—they see that as a half measure at best. After all, one side’s gain is the other side’s delay, and that could hamper Europe’s digital ambitions.
A Geopolitical and Digital Sovereignty Showdown
6G isn’t just about blazing fast speeds. It’s a gateway to next-gen applications: everything from massive Internet of Things deployments and digital twins to holographic conferencing and mission-critical remote surgery. Europe’s already invested in projects like 6G-MIRAI and HARMONY, partnering with Japan to take on U.S. and Chinese dominance in telecom innovation.
But as the GSMA letter spells out, this is also a matter of geopolitical muscle and digital sovereignty. If Europe drags its feet on allocating the upper 6 GHz band to home-grown operators, American players could lock down those frequencies first. That would put European carriers—and the companies relying on them—at a disadvantage, potentially throttling economic growth and undercutting Europe’s influence over its own digital destiny.
And let’s not forget the security angle. Falling behind on spectrum could leave European networks dependent on foreign kit—think Huawei antennas creeping into the infrastructure again—right when geopolitical tensions are heating up. No one wants to repeat the 5G drama all over again, where strategic and security concerns became daily headlines.
Looking Ahead: The Road to 6G in Europe
The clock is ticking. Brussels and national regulators will soon have to decide whether to share the upper 6 GHz band between Wi-Fi and mobile, carve out a dedicated slice for 6G, or pursue dynamic sharing schemes. There are technical fixes—like automated frequency coordination and tight power limits—that could let both camps coexist. But politics, industry lobbying and international competition will heavily influence the final shape.
Whichever way this plays out, Europe’s decision will send shockwaves through the global telecom ecosystem. If regulators move swiftly and strike a balanced deal, European operators can keep pace with Asia and North America. Let the debate rage—but time is of the essence. Every month of delay means more ground ceded to overseas rivals.
