U.Ok. regulator units out its imaginative and prescient for six GHz spectrum

Final 12 months, Ofcom mentioned it had consulted on an strategy that may enable each Wi-Fi and cellular companies to share spectrum within the higher 6 GHz band

U.Ok. telecom regulator Ofcom has set out its imaginative and prescient for a way shared use of the higher 6 GHz spectrum band might allow each Wi-Fi and cellular companies, whereas additionally persevering with to serve the band’s present customers.

“As individuals use ever extra information of their every day lives, there are rising calls for on radio spectrum. It’s a finite useful resource, so we’re contemplating progressive methods of guaranteeing that it’s used as effectively as doable,” the regulator mentioned in a launch.

“In July 2023, we consulted on an strategy that may enable each Wi-Fi and cellular companies to share spectrum within the higher 6 GHz band, generally known as ‘hybrid sharing’. This may be the primary time Wi-Fi and licensed cellular applied sciences share spectrum extensively. This paper outlines two doable approaches that might type a part of a sharing framework,” Ofcom added.

The primary strategy is named a “variable spectrum cut up”. Ofcom acknowledged that this strategy stipulates that each Wi-Fi and cellular would have the ability to use any a part of the band the place the opposite is just not deployed, however have sections of it they’re prioritized in. This may very well be finished by every know-how transmitting a selected sign to allow them to sense and keep away from one another, the regulator mentioned.

Within the second strategy, referred to as an “indoor/out of doors cut up”, Ofcom defined that Wi-Fi routers are usually indoors to serve a selected family, whereas cellular base stations are principally situated outside to supply protection to a wider space. The band may very well be managed to prioritize the indoor use of Wi-Fi whereas additionally prioritizing cellular use outside.

“We’re working with business to develop a hybrid sharing framework and the mandatory coexistence options. We’re additionally working with different European regulators, with a technical report on this subject is scheduled to be printed in 2025. Earlier this month we welcomed a variety of know-how corporations and European regulators to a workshop on this subject. The concepts mentioned by the roughly 70 members will assist us additional refine our pondering,” Ofcom mentioned.

The regulator additionally highlighted that the U.Ok. Authorities’s Division for Science, Innovation and Expertise can be funding a number of trials till March 2025 to discover new spectrum-sharing strategies.

“Subsequent 12 months, we’ll set out additional particulars on how we intend to make the higher 6GHz band out there within the U.Ok., and can seek the advice of earlier than making any selections on future use of the band,” Ofcom added.

Final month, Ofcom supplied updates on the way it will make mmWave spectrum out there within the 26 GHz and 40 GHz bands.

In September 2023, Ofcom had introduced that it’s going to open these spectrum bands to cellular know-how, together with 5G companies, for the supply of sooner 5G speeds throughout 68 cities and cities throughout the U.Ok. Ofcom goals to award a number of 15-year, fastened time period citywide licenses to make use of the mmWave frequencies in 68 main cities and cities throughout the U.Ok., in addition to some localized licenses for “low density areas” inside these cities through a shared entry licensing framework.

Ofcom had beforehand confirmed it is not going to maintain an public sale of mmWave spectrum till a call has been made by the nation’s competitors authorities on a proposed merger between native carriers Vodafone and Three UK.