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Ofcom Moves Ahead with Plan to Share Upper 6GHz Radio Band for Mobile and Wi-Fi in the UK

Ofcom, the UK’s independent regulator for telecoms (among other things), has recently confirmed that the UK is set to be the first European country to adopt a proposal that allows low power indoor Wi-Fi signals and outdoor mobile broadband (4G, 5G etc.) networks to “share” access to the Upper 6GHz radio spectrum band (6425 to 7125MHz).

This comes as very welcome and celebratory news to Wi-Fi professionals across the country, who have been waiting for this to happen for a while! 

The lower part of the 6GHz band (5925 to 6425MHz) has already been made available for Wi-Fi by Ofcom through the latest Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 standards. However, the availability (or lack of) of the upper part has remained the subject to debate. 

Why do Mobile and Wi-Fi operators want access to the Upper 6GHz band?

Mobile operators want to harness the upper band, in a licensed way, in order to deliver faster 5G and future 6G based data speeds. 

Other groups maintain that the upper band should be accessed by licence-exempt consumer Wi-Fi. 

Current users of the upper band, for example, satellite, radio astronomy and fixed services, also share concerns that allowing access to other users will risk causing interference.

Part of the proposal has also been to allow outdoor and higher power Wi-Fi to operate within the Lower 6GHz band under the control of an Automated Frequency Coordination database (historically only low power indoor use Wi-Fi has accessed the lower band). The AFC database will help protect other users from interference, whilst improving Wi-Fi coverage in places like hospitals, factories and sports stadiums. 

Both sides of the debate, for and against sharing access to the upper 6GHz band, have given strong arguments. Ofcom have spent the last few years looking into ‘hybrid sharing’ to try and find some middle-ground between the two camps. This would, hopefully, mean that both Wi-Fi and mobile could be used in the upper 6GHz band. We should caveat this by saying that the co-existence of the two without causing interference remains a challenge. 

How does this ‘hybrid sharing’ of the Upper 6GHz band work? 

Ofcom’s ‘hybrid sharing’ approach works by dividing up the upper 6GHz band. This means that Wi-Fi would be prioritised in one part and mobile in the other. Each would have clear technical conditions and controls attached, which would help to limit the risks from interference. 

The new consultation closes on the 20th March 2026 and finalises Ofcom’s proposals. You can read the full consultation and statement here. 

Although this is very exciting for us Wi-Fi professionals, we must remember that implementation will be a slow process.

Ofcom’s Group Director for Spectrum, David Willis said:

“Today’s announcements reaffirm the UK’s position as a leader in Europe in getting the most out of the airwaves we all rely on.

Sharing Upper 6 GHz would be a win for businesses and homes across the country who want both better Wi-Fi and mobile networks that are fit for the future. And our decision on lower 6 GHz will boost broadband services across the UK.

Our plans open the doors to further economic growth and investment, while supporting the delivery of crucial innovations like 6G in the future.”

What are the latest Ofcom decisions in the Proposal to Share Upper 6GHz Band? 

  • Ofcom will authorise, under a licence exemption, use of outdoor and higher power Wi-Fi devices (up to 36 dBm EIRP) in the Lower 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz) provided they are under the control of an AFC system.
  • As a result, they will require implementation of an AFC system by third parties. They are separately consulting on the details necessary to implement that AFC system.
  • Whilst they are consulting further on approaches to enable Wi-Fi in the Upper 6 GHz band (6425–7125 MHz), they will proceed with making low power Wi-Fi client devices available across the Upper 6 GHz band, provided they are connected to an authorised Access Point (“AP”, for example a Wi-Fi router). This decision should allow client devices to be made available for possible future use of the band, thereby helping faster adoption. Use in the band, in practice, will only become possible once they have made a decision on the proposals below to enable Access Points in Upper 6 GHz.
  • They will adopt a sub-national licencing approach for mobile in the Upper 6 GHz band in the “mobile priority” portion of the band. They intend to award mobile licences in “high density” areas of the UK and expect to implement a local licensing arrangement (for example, on a first come, first served basis) outside of these high density areas. We will consult further on the specifics of this in spring 2026.

What are Ofcom proposing for Mobile and Wi-Fi use of the Upper 6GHz band? A Brief Summary:

  • Ofcom will implement prioritised spectrum sharing in the Upper 6 GHz band, with:

– A “Wi-Fi- priority” portion in the bottom 160 MHz of the band (6425–6585 MHz).

– A “mobile priority” portion in the upper 540 MHz (6585–7125 MHz).

  • Ofcom will make the Wi-Fi priority portion available on the same basis as spectrum in the Lower 6 GHz band. This includes indoor and very lower power Wi-Fi, and also outdoor and higher power Wi-Fi provided this is under the control of an AFC system.
  • Ofcom will enable early access for Wi-Fi in the mobile priority portion of Upper 6 GHz. In response to feedback from the February 2025 consultation, we propose to only allow this access for Wi-Fi which is under the control of an AFC system. This will ensure that we can clear Wi-Fi out of the way, in the locations and channels where mobile deploys later on.

Mobile Operator Use of the Upper 6GHz Band

Of course, as we said above, the full implementation of this will take a while, especially in terms of mobile use (4G, 5G, 6G). 

This proposal and approach from Ofcom is in part linked to the efforts in Europe to harmonise the use of the same band. A policy very similar to this is expected in 2028. Ofcom is not expecting the support of mobile hardware equipment until 2030. 

Wi-Fi Use of Upper 6GHz Band

As we mentioned earlier, the Wi-Fi side of things requires the new AFC database to help reduce the risk of interference, so that will show down implementation. How does AFC work? It automatically identifies frequencies that can be used by Wi-Fi, without having an impact on existing services. This keeps the task of spectrum management and administration as low demand as possible. The US and Canada already use the AFC system, and other countries are in the consideration stages. 

What do you think about the proposal to share Upper 6GHz band for UK mobile and Wi-Fi? 

Perspectives differ and the debate surrounding this is passionate on both sides. As Wi-Fi professionals, we have been waiting for this to happen for a while and we are excited about what this means for Wi-Fi deployment and coverage for many UK businesses. 

Why will access to the upper 6GHz band be good for Wi-Fi professionals? 

As Wi-Fi engineers, our job is to deploy strong, reliable Wi-Fi with robust coverage in a myriad of business settings and industries. 

Access to the upper 6GHz band will provide Wi-Fi professionals like us here at Geekabit with a massive amount of clean, uncongested spectrum.

In simple terms, access to the Upper 6GHz band for Wi-Fi means:

  • faster speeds
  • lower latency
  • greater capacity

These are all essential for high-density and mission-critical environments like factories, hospitals, and stadiums. 

Key Benefits of Accessing the Upper 6GHz Band for Wi-Fi Professionals:

  • Vastly Increased Capacity and Bandwidth: The 6 GHz band can add as much as 1200 MHz of new, contiguous spectrum (depending on the region), more than doubling the combined bandwidth of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This extra capacity is crucial for environments with a high density of users and devices, allowing networks to handle heavy traffic volumes without performance degradation.
  • Reduced Interference and Congestion: The band is a “greenfield” (empty) spectrum, meaning it is reserved for newer Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 devices only. This exclusivity eliminates interference from older legacy devices and neighboring networks, providing a much cleaner and more reliable radio frequency (RF) environment.
  • Lower Latency for Critical Applications: The 6 GHz band enables extremely low latency connections, often as low as under one millisecond. This is vital for real-time applications such as remote medical imaging, augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) training simulations, autonomous robotics in factories, and instant replays in stadiums.
  • Wider Channels for Higher Speeds: The large swaths of contiguous spectrum allow for the use of wider channels (e.g., 80 MHz and 160 MHz, and even 320 MHz with Wi-Fi 7). These wider channels facilitate multi-gigabit speeds and higher data throughput, which is perfect for transferring large files like high-resolution medical images.
  • Improved Network Efficiency and Management: Offloading newer, high-performance devices to the 6 GHz band frees up capacity on the existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This improves performance for older devices that cannot access 6 GHz and gives Wi-Fi professionals more flexibility in channel planning and network design.
  • Enhanced Security: The adoption of the 6 GHz band with Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 often mandates the use of the latest WPA3 security protocol, offering more robust encryption and authentication to protect sensitive data, such as patient records in a hospital.
  • Support for Innovation: Access to this spectrum future-proofs networks, enabling the adoption of emerging, bandwidth-intensive technologies and services like IoT devices, real-time analytics, and advanced automation, which can enhance operational efficiency and customer care. 

By leveraging the upper 6 GHz band, Wi-Fi professionals like us can design and deploy more resilient, high-performance, and secure wireless networks capable of meeting the rigorous demands of complex environments like our clients in factories, hospitals and stadiums. 

by admin
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Connections Boosted by VMO2 5G Drones for Search and Rescue Missions

Here at Geekabit we talk a lot about the problems that rural areas face when it comes to connectivity – Whether it’s mobile or broadband. 

Mostly we’re talking about businesses and homes that struggle with more traditional forms of broadband internet connectivity as well as mobile broadband options. 

But what about organisations that rely on connectivity outside the normal 4 walls of business premises?

For Search and Rescue teams, staying connected couldn’t be more vital. Yet, they’re often plunged into rural and remote locations trying to find someone missing and potentially hurt. 

So how can we make sure that these Search and Rescue teams stay connected with their base and are able to utilise location data? 

Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has come up with just the solution. They’ve recently developed a 5G-connected drone that is specifically designed to bolster the communication that is so vital to Search and Rescue teams. 

Who is trialling this 5G drone for Search and Rescue teams? 

The first Search and Rescue team to trial VMO2’s 5G drone is Warwickshire Search and Rescue team.

As we said above, communication in remote and vast terrains is absolutely vital but can be a challenge for Search and Rescue teams. As the work of these teams is so time critical, it’s essential that their effectiveness is unhindered by communication and connectivity problems. 

As a Lowland Rescue Unit, the Warwickshire Search and Rescue team play a vital role in locating vulnerable missing persons alongside the police. 

With a 45% increase in callouts between 2020 and 2022, the demand for their services continues to surge with 65 callouts in 2023 – That’s more than 1 per week. 

How does VMO2’s 5G drone work?

The 5G Technical Trials Team over at VMO2 saw this need for critical connectivity and devised a portable solution that uses a network of low earth orbit (LEO) satellites. The portability and compactness of the tech means that it’s small enough to be integrated into a drone. Ideal for vast, remote spaces. 

This easy-to-deploy drone acts like a flying mobile phone mast, enabling Search and Rescue teams to stay connected via seamless 5G connectivity regardless of their location.

What do VMO2 have to say?

Here at Geekabit we love to see how innovative thinking and technological advancements combine to create fresh ideas and impactful solutions to a whole range of problems. 

Head of Technical Trials for Virgin Media O2, David Owens, says:

“This project is a further example of how fresh-thinking and 5G technologies can be combined to provide real societal benefits.

“The solution has the potential to transform how search and rescue teams operate and respond to life-threatening situations, enabling them to make faster and more decisive decisions. We’re enormously proud that our connectivity will be able to help these teams to save lives.”

What do Warwickshire Search and Rescue make of the 5G drone?

Trustee and Search Technician at Warwickshire Search and Rescue, Steve Brown says: 

“With more and more callouts each year, this drone with mobile connectivity is a powerful tool for our team to understand and assess a situation immediately, saving crucial time in life-threatening situations.

“It means we will always be connected, ensuring seamless communication and efficient coordination throughout our missions. As a result of this, we will connect the unreachable, save lives, and inspire a new era of technological possibilities.”

There’s no doubt that this innovative use of 5G mobile connectivity is a fantastic example of how technology can be used in even the most hard-to-reach places. 

In the UK, someone is reported missing every 90 seconds. The more swiftly that person can be located, the better the outcome. For those that have gone missing in a remote area, a Search and Rescue team that can stay reliably connected will be a huge advantage. 

As Portfolio Holder for Fire & Rescue and Community Safety at Warwickshire County Council, Councillor Andy Crump said: 

“The Warwickshire Search and Rescue team do such vital work for our local community by assisting the police in searching for missing people. 

“This new solution from Virgin Media O2 will help the team on these missions and ultimately save many lives. It is further evidence of the positive impact improved connectivity can have upon our society.”

We’re looking forward to seeing how 5G drones and satellite broadband technology can be accessed in more remote areas and rural locations.

by admin
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When Will 3G Be Turned Off in the UK?

Did you know that mobile services here in the UK use 4 different generations of mobile technology? They are 2G, 3G, 4G and most recently 5G. 

Since 2003, we have used 3G networks to make calls, send text messages and use lower speed data services. 

Did you also know that UK mobile providers have decided that they will be switching off their 3G networks?

Why are mobile providers switching off 3G networks?

3G networks rely on older, less efficient technology. By switching off 3G mobile networks, they will make more room for 4G and 5G networks. The 4G and 5G networks are more advanced, which give customers a better, faster and more reliable service. 

When will mobile providers switch off 3G networks?

3G mobile nbetworks will be gradually switched off over the next few years, starting from early 2023. When your 3G network will be switched off depends on your mobile provider. Each provider is switching off their 3G network at slightly different times. 

For the best up-to-date information on when your mobile provider will be switching off their 3G network, you should visit their website. Below is a rough estimate of when you might expect each network to begin their switch off their 3G.

  • Vodafone – Early 2023
  • EE – Early 2024
  • Three – End of 2024
  • O2 – Not yet announced, but they have begun switching off their 3G network in Germany as of July 2021

Wondering why your provider isn’t on the list? These 4 main providers supply all the other mobile network providers in the UK. If you have a mobile contract with another provider, they will be under one of the above networks. To find out which provider runs your services, see below. 

  • Vodafone – Lebara Mobile, Asda Mobile, Talk Mobile and Virgin Mobile (soon to move to O2)  .
  • EE – Your Co-op, Utility Warehouse, Plusnet and BT Mobile.
  • Three – ID Mobile 
  • O2 – Tesco Mobile, Giffgaff, Sky Mobile and Lycamobile 

Will 3G networks being switched off affect me? 

If you have an older mobile device that uses older networks and services then this switch off could affect you and your device. 

This change is unlikely to affect you if you already have a device that uses 4G and/or 5G networks. You will likely just need to do a software update to make sure that any calls use the right network on 4G, but you might not need to do anything. 

If you are going to be affected by the 3G switch off, then your provider will tell you and advise what you need to do. If you’re not sure whether this will apply to you, you can check in your device settings – Look under ‘mobile networks’ or ‘mobile data’ and see if it has 4G available. 

I have an older 3G device – What should I do?

If you have an older device that uses only 3G, then unfortunately that device will need to be replaced before the switch off to avoid disruption to your mobile phone use. 

Any devices that do not allow you to use 4G or 5G will stop working as they won’t be able to access your data. Your provider will advise you if this is the case so do look out for any communication from them. We’re sure they will give you plenty of notice so you will have time to replace your device before the 3G switch off. 

We know that times are hard at the moment. If the thought of having to buy a new device before the switch off is a worrying thought, then do let your provider know. There may be schemes or support available to help find an affordable option.

As with all things tech – Shop around! There are basic 4G handsets on the market for just £10 which should help in the short term. 

What about 2G – Is that being switched off too?

Are you a customer with EE, Vodafone or O2? Then you’re in luck! Older devices with these providers will still be able to make calls and send texts using the 2G network, even after 3G is switched off. 

Bear in mind though that 2G was not designed to access data services, so after 3G is switched off you won’t be able to access most of those. It will just be calls and texts. 

If you’re with Three then you will still need to replace your device if it’s an older model. This is because they don’t have a 2G network. So to make sure you can continue to make calls, send text messages and access data after 2024, remember to replace your device – Or add it to your Christmas list!

2G won’t be around forever though. There are plans to also switch off the 2G network by all providers by 2033. 

That might seem like a long way off, but once the 3G networks have been switched off, we would expect to see mobile providers start to make plans to also switch off their 2G networks. 

Can the 3G switch off affect other devices?

When we talk about 3G we of course think straight to mobile phones and tablets that use data. But there are other devices that also use 3G. 

Think care alarms, security alarms and payment terminals. If you have a device like this, you might need to make an upgrade before the 3G networks are switched off. It’s worth checking with your provider to find out if your device could be affected and whether it will still work after the 3G network is switched off. 

Do you travel?

Whilst these dates are for the UK 3G network switch off, other countries around the world have already begun. 

In the USA, all 3G networks have already been switched off. If you travel a lot for work or leisure, you might want to check that your device will work in the destination you are travelling to. 

If you visit a country where the 3G network switch off has already started, you might run into roaming problems depending on your device. This could stop you from making calls or sending texts, unless you are connected to Wi-Fi. 

Check with your provider before you leave the UK. 

by admin
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Can Hot Weather Affect Your Phone Signal?

We’ve recently had the second heatwave of the year here in the UK, particularly the South of England with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees at our bases in Hampshire, London and Cardiff. 

Understatement of the year – It’s been very hot. And you might have noticed that during said heat wave, your 4G mobile phone signal has been affected 

Mobile network traffic is carried on radio waves, so the reception you get on your mobile phone can be affected by any kind of atmospheric conditions – including very hot weather. Just as you might find the weather affects your terrestrial radio signal! 

Weather in general, not just extreme heat, can directly (e.g. a thunderstorm with lightning causing electrical interference) and indirectly (change of season affecting mobile reception) effect 4G signal on your mobile phone or broadband service. 

How could a change of season affect network signal? Well, something as simple as the trees surrounding a property being bare in the Winter could mean that there is less interference to the reception coming in and going out. Come the Spring, the trees become covered with leaves, which could weaken and sometimes block the signal. 

But how does day-to-day weather affect 4G signal?

The most obvious weather affecting mobile phone coverage is stormy weather – Torrential rain and thunderstorms. Water and radio waves don’t really mix, so any water in the atmosphere is not good for your mobile signal. The frequencies used by mobile networks are hindered by any water – Not just rain and snow, but also fog, clouds and even high humidity. All of these types of weather can negatively impact your mobile phone signal. .

Why does water hinder 4G signal? Well, water conducts electricity, so any water vapour in the atmosphere can actually refract and reflect radio waves. Us Wi-Fi engineers call this the “propagation delay effect.”

What this means is that your mobile phone signal could be:

  • Weakened by interference
  • Disrupted or slowed down due to the signal taking longer to go between your device and the tower

Is the weather affecting my mobile phone reception?

We’re going to take a look at different types of weather now, and how each different weather conditional can interfere with the signal you get on your mobile phone or 4G device. 

Do extreme temperatures affect phone signal?

We’ll start with temperature as we’ve been enjoying such hot weather recently! Generally speaking, extremes of hot or cold weather on their own shouldn’t affect your mobile reception. 

You disagree? If you are experiencing issues with your 4G reception during extreme heat or very cold temperatures, it’s more likely to be due to what’s going on in the air and how the humidity is changing. 

Can rain affect my mobile phone reception? 

Rain is the weather that is most likely to negatively affect your 4G signal. In a rainstorm, the density o the water vapour in the air is highest – The heavier the rain, the more likely your 4G will be affected. 

Water vaoour in the air can also absorb the energy from the radio waves, reducing the reception your mobile phone can achieve. 

Can thunderstorms and lightning interfere with my 4G?

We’ve covered rain above, but actually thunderstorms even without heavy rain can cause real issues for mobile phone coverage. Because the lightning causes electrical interference, your 4G can struggle. 

Of course, lightning can also strike causing damage to cell towers and other network equipment which would obviously cause disruption to your local mobile network service. 

Does snow and hail make my mobile signal worse? 

You might think that snow or hail would be worse than rain, but generally it’s actually not as bad for phone reception. Snow flakes and hail stones are less dense than rain, so have less of an effect on mobile coverage. However, if we were to have very heavy snow, it can refract the radio waves and cause them to change direction which would cause problems with mobile signal and 4G. 

Does fog and cloud affect mobile phone signal? 

Whilst not as effective as rain at disrupting 4G signal, fog and cloud can still cause issues for mobile coverage because of the water vapour in the air. They still have the ability to cause localised problems with mobile reception by scattering radio waves. 

Can wind disrupt mobile phone signal? 

Just as with temperature, wind is unlikely to cause mobile coverage problems just as itself and shouldn’t affect your mobile signal if it’s unaccompanied by other weather. 

When it starts to cause problems for 4G signal is when the wind is joined by rain, snow or hail. Of course, with very high winds there is also the possibility of blowing down or damaging mobile network equipment and power lines, which could disrupt the service you get on your mobile. 

Is there anything I can do when the weather gives me poor mobile signal? 

There isn’t a great deal you can do if the weather is affecting your 4G signal and causing mobile coverage issues. You may find that a mobile phone signal booster could provide some reduction in disruption of mobile phone coverage due to poor weather conditions. 

A mobile phone signal booster works by taking the existing mobile signal and amplifying it, giving you better call quality, faster data and a more reliable signal for your phone or home. 

If you rely on your phone for work or use 4G broadband in your home, then this could be a good option for you to help ensure better coverage in bad weather. 

If the odd spot of bad weather isn’t going to cause you too much trouble by disrupting mobile coverage for a short while then you can probably grin and bear it – Ride out the storm! 

by admin
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