No, Europe is not going to kill Wi-Fi 7 (and even less Wi-Fi 6E)

To understand clearly, let us recall that the 6 GHz frequency bandused by Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, theoretically spans 1200 MHz. This width would make it possible to take advantage of three 320 MHz channels (think of them as wide highways for data), essential for Wi-Fi 7 to achieve its theoretical speeds close to 4 Gb/s on our devices (smartphones, laptops, etc.).

However, in Europe we currently only have 500 MHz bandwidth on the lower 6 GHz (ranging from 5925 MHz to 6425 MHz). This limits the use of Wi-Fi 7 to a single 320 MHz channel.

For the Wi-Fi 6E standard, which uses 160 MHz channels, these 500 MHz allow three to be used. Wi-Fi 7 can also use these 160 MHz channels, but its maximum throughput is logically halved. This is why we see devices (laptops, motherboards) advertised as Wi-Fi 7 compatible but capped at these 160 MHz channels, hence the term sometimes used “fake Wi-Fi 7”.

Please note: The United States, Canada and South Korea make full use of 1200 MHz for Wi-Fi, while in China, these 1200 MHz are exclusively reserved for operators. Manufacturers must therefore juggle the firmware of their routers to only transmit on the bands authorized in the countries concerned.

The deadline for the allocation of these additional 700 MHz (the upper band) was eagerly awaited.

• For the Wi-Fi Alliance, obtaining this band was crucial to avoid saturation of the single 320 MHz channel in dense areas (urban centers, shopping centers, universities) in Europe.
• For operators, this band would improve 5G speeds and, ultimately, deploy 6G (planned for 2030) at lower cost. Without it, their only option would be millimeter bands (like 26 GHz), which require significant infrastructure investments.

A verdict in favor of the operators

After a long lobbying battle, the RSPG delivered its verdict. Over the total upper 700 MHz band (ranging from 6425 MHz to 7125 MHz), the recommended distribution is as follows:

• 540 MHz will be reserved for mobile cellular use (for advanced 5G And the future 6G).
• 160 MHz will remain on hold until the next World Radiocommunication Conference in October 2027 (WRC-27).

This decision leans very clearly in favor of mobile operators. Not only do they get the biggest share, but the door remains open for the entire top bracket to ultimately be awarded to them at WRC-27 in Shanghai.

Obviously, telecommunications groups welcomed the news. The atmosphere is quite different among supporters of Wi-Fi; The Wi-Fi Alliance called this recommendation “short-termist”.

In practice, if Wi-Fi managed to recover the remaining 160 MHz in 2027, Wi-Fi 7 could benefit from two full 320 MHz channels (compared to just one currently). Wi-Fi 6E, for its part, would go from three to four 160 MHz channels. We will therefore have to wait until the end of 2027 to know the final outcome.

The global landscape: Europe is charting its own course

This decision places Europe in an intermediate position on the global stage, contrasting sharply with the two other major technological blocs:

• China, which has dedicated the entire 6 GHz band to mobile operators.
• The United States, which has allocated the entire 6 GHz band for unlicensed use (mainly Wi-Fi).

With this new European orientation, the United States finds itself more isolated in its choice. Yago Tenorio, technical director of the American operator Verizon, recently expressed his concern, stating: “When it comes to spectrum for 6G, I’m not sure the U.S. is currently globally competitive”emphasizing the advantage taken by China.

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