European Telcos Urge EU Action on Spectrum Allocation to Avoid Falling Behind US in 6G: Report

Twelve of Europe’s largest telecom operators have called on regulators to allocate the entire upper 6GHz frequency band for mobile services, warning that delays could leave the region lagging behind the United States and China in the global race toward future 6G deployment.

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6GHz Spectrum for 5G and 6G Networks

In a letter seen by Reuters, companies including Vodafone (UK), Deutsche Telekom (Germany), Orange (France), and TIM (Italy) stressed the strategic importance of the upper 6GHz band—one of the few remaining large blocks of mid-band spectrum available. This spectrum is considered ideal for future mobile networks, as it offers a balance of high data capacity and broad coverage.

The telecom firms warned that without access to the full 6GHz band, Europe’s mobile networks would face capacity shortfalls, jeopardising both current 5G performance and the future rollout of 6G. Most European nations have already auctioned airwaves in the 3.4–3.8 GHz range for initial 5G deployments.

“Without the full availability of the upper 6GHz for mobile networks, any future 6G services in this band would be significantly curtailed and ultimately jeopardise Europe’s opportunity to play a leading role in 6G deployment,” the operators stated, according to the report.

Also Read: Europe’s 5G Adoption Expected to Surpass 4G by 2026: GSMA Report

Europe Risks Falling Behind the US

Their appeal comes as Europe’s Radio Spectrum Policy Group prepares to issue a draft opinion in June, which will include recommendations to the European Commission on how to allocate the upper portion of the 6GHz band.

The United States opened the band for Wi-Fi use in 2020, and China designated it for 5G and 6G services in 2023. In contrast, the European Union has yet to finalise its stance on repurposing these frequencies.