The EU should ensure that enough spectrum is made available to enable the next generations of Wi-Fi Gigabit technologies, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, to thrive alongside 5G and fibre, Dynamic Spectrum Alliance said.

DSA in a letter sent to European Commissioners, MEPs and EU ambassadors said the US, Canada, Brazil and South Korea have already released the full 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi use.

Organizations representing a wide range of sectors from satellite operators to European augmented and virtual reality companies, European startups, European and global manufacturers, European small and medium sized enterprises, and European video game companies, have signed the letter.

The organizations include the DSA, Allied for Startups, AVM, EMEA Satellite Operators Association (ESOA), EuroXR Association, Interactive Software Federation of Europe (ISFE) and LANCOM Systems.

The group calls on EU policymakers to consider the enabling role of Wi-Fi and satellite technologies as they reflect on priority actions for the EU Digital Decade Policy Program.

“The digital transformation of the whole European society will rely on Wi-Fi connectivity,” said Martha Suarez, President of Dynamic Spectrum Alliance, who signed the letter. “It provides the most effective connectivity for our homes and offices and will support the wireless extension of fibre networks.”

“Innovations such as Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) will rely on Wi-Fi connectivity. Solving the rural connectivity gap will also rely on a combination of fibre, satellite, affordable fixed wireless access and Wi-Fi technologies,” Suarez said.