Ofcom has put forward a proposal that could quietly but seriously change how wireless internet works in the UK.
The regulator wants to rethink how a valuable chunk of radio spectrum, the upper 6 GHz band from 6425 to 7125 MHz, is used. Instead of handing it entirely to mobile networks or keeping it mainly for Wi-Fi, Ofcom is suggesting something different. Share it.
The idea, published on 9 January and now open for public consultation until 20 March 2026, introduces a new shift. Rather than arguing over who owns the spectrum, Ofcom is asking how different technologies can use it together, without getting in each other’s way.
That question matters more than it might sound, especially as the UK looks ahead to faster Wi-Fi and future 6G mobile networks. Let us explore this but first, why the 6 GHz band is such a big deal?
The 6 GHz band is attractive for one simple reason, it offers lots of space. Wider channels mean faster speeds, lower delays, and more capacity than older bands like 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. This spectrum is what powers newer Wi-Fi standards such as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, and it is also being eyed by the mobile industry as a building block for 6G.
So far, the UK has only allowed low-power indoor Wi-Fi in the lower part of the band, between 5925 and 6425 MHz. The upper part has stayed mostly unused. Mobile operators want it for licensed services, especially in busy cities. Tech firms, venue owners, and enterprises want it for fast, flexible Wi-Fi in places like offices, stadiums, airports, and factories.
Other countries have gone their own ways. The US and Canada opened the full 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi, using a system called Automated Frequency Coordination, or AFC, to prevent interference. Much of Europe has leaned toward keeping the upper part for mobile use, with a clearer line between licensed and unlicensed spectrum.
Ofcom is now trying to land somewhere in the middle.
How the sharing model would work
Under the proposal, the upper 6 GHz band would be split on paper into two parts:
- 6425–6585 MHz, marked as Wi-Fi priority
- 6585–7125 MHz, marked as mobile priority
But this is not a strict wall. Both Wi-Fi and mobile services could operate across the whole band, as long as they follow certain rules.
Wi-Fi devices using the mobile-priority section would have to rely on AFC systems. These systems check a central database to see if mobile services are active nearby and, if so, move Wi-Fi traffic to other frequencies (Think of AFC as traffic control for radio waves. It keeps track of who is using what, where, and adjusts things as conditions change.). Mobile networks, even in their priority range, would also have to avoid causing harmful interference to Wi-Fi and existing users.
Ofcom is also suggesting changes to the lower 6 GHz band. Higher-power and outdoor Wi-Fi could be allowed there too, again under AFC control. That could open the door to much better Wi-Fi in places like train stations, campuses, and industrial sites, where today’s rules can feel quite limiting.
Some analysts say the approach makes sense, especially outside big cities. In rural areas, mobile demand may be low while Wi-Fi could make good use of the spectrum. A flexible system can adapt to real demand rather than leaving airwaves idle.
Mobile network suppliers are more cautious. Licensed spectrum has always given operators certainty and control, which is vital for reliable coverage. Even with priority rules, sharing introduces a level of unpredictability. Some vendors have warned that future 6G services, which may need extremely reliable connections, could struggle in a shared environment.
Wi-Fi supporters are broadly positive but not without concerns. More spectrum is good news, but AFC changes the nature of licence-exempt Wi-Fi. Access now depends on databases, software, and whoever runs those systems. If they fail, or if the market becomes too concentrated, problems could follow.
Despite the attention, this does not mean mobile networks will suddenly start using 6 GHz next year. Think of AFC as traffic control for radio waves. It keeps track of who is using what, where, and adjusts things as conditions change.. Equipment, standards, and international alignment, especially with Europe, are not ready yet. Real deployments are unlikely before 2027 or 2028, and widespread use may not arrive until around 2030.
Wi-Fi could benefit sooner. Devices that support 6 GHz already exist, although they are currently restricted in the UK. Once AFC systems are approved and rolled out, high-capacity Wi-Fi could appear in public and commercial spaces without the need for new fibre.
That said, AFC infrastructure is not yet in place at scale. Ofcom is running a separate consultation on how AFC database providers should be authorised and regulated. How that market develops could be just as important as the spectrum rules themselves.
For decades, spectrum policy was simple. Either it was licensed and tightly controlled, or it was licence-exempt and mostly open. Ofcom is now moving toward something else, orchestrated sharing. Access becomes dynamic, conditional, and managed through software.
This blurs the old line between licensed and unlicensed use. Spectrum starts to look less like a piece of property and more like a shared utility, actively managed in real time.
Over the coming months, Ofcom will collect feedback from industry, researchers, and the public.
