The 6 GHz opportunity is bigger than 6G – but more spectrum won’t fix a flawed economic model
The GSMA argues that the mobile ecosystem is ready to deploy in the upper 6 GHz band (6.425–7.125 GHz) and that policymakers should make the spectrum available now for future 6G deployments.1
But ecosystem readiness is only one part of the equation. The fact that mobile can use more spectrum does not, by itself, establish that dedicating another swath of scarce spectrum to mobile makes economic sense.
The fundamental problem facing the mobile operators is clear: Traffic growth is slowing. Operator costs are growing. Revenue is not keeping pace.
Spectrum-related costs have increased from roughly 3% of operator revenues in 2014 to 8% in 2024, with approximately €104 billion associated with existing spectrum costs between 2025 and 2035.2 At the same time, the GSMA estimates that Europe needs approximately €475 billion in mobile-network investment between 2026 and 2036, while only about €270 billion is expected under current conditions. The GSMA itself concludes that operators cannot currently build a business case to justify the required investment.3
The revenue picture is equally challenging. Connect Europe reports that GDP-adjusted mobile ARPU was €14.90 in 2024, compared with €15.30 in 2015. European operators have already paid more than €30 billion for 5G spectrum, while annualized spectrum costs exceed €8 billion.4 Adding another major spectrum acquisition and network investment cycle therefore does not, by itself, address the underlying economics. It adds spectrum costs and capital requirements to a market already struggling to generate sufficient returns.
Exclusive allocation of the upper 6 GHz to mobile operators means: More spectrum costs. More capex. The same revenue constraints.
The 6 GHz opportunity is bigger than 6G
None of this diminishes the importance of 6G. Europe needs advanced, high-capacity wireless connectivity, and the upper 6 GHz band could play an important role.
But 6 GHz is not exclusively a mobile story.
Europe is also trying to build an AI economy. AI workloads are driving higher network traffic, while enterprises deploy connected devices, machine vision, robotics, digital twins and other data-intensive applications. Much of this activity takes place indoors, where Wi-Fi provides the critical local connectivity layer.
AI does not care whether connectivity is called “mobile” or “Wi-Fi.” It needs capacity, low latency, reliability and enough spectrum to connect large numbers of devices.
That makes Wi-Fi spectrum policy part of AI infrastructure policy.
The real-world evidence is already emerging. Ookla reports that 6 GHz represents approximately 13.8% of Wi-Fi samples in North America, compared with only 1.6% in Europe.5
New research from the University of Notre Dame’s Ghosh Lab, based on more than 3.5 million real-world 6 GHz Wi-Fi observations, further demonstrates the importance of access to wider, usable channels for actual network deployment and performance.6
The implication is straightforward: Europe’s connectivity strategy should not be built around a single network architecture.
Fibre, Wi-Fi and mobile each provide different capabilities and increasingly work together as parts of the same connectivity ecosystem.
The upper 6 GHz band is one of the few remaining opportunities to strengthen that ecosystem.
A better economic framework
The 6 GHz debate should therefore move beyond a simple question of which industry gets the spectrum.
The relevant measure is the incremental connectivity, productivity and economic value created by different uses of the band.
More spectrum can be valuable. But spectrum alone cannot create customers, increase ARPU or repair the economics of network investment.
You cannot fix a flawed economic model with more spectrum.
Europe should make sure that every additional megahertz contributes to the broader connectivity and economic objectives it is trying to achieve.
1GSMA, “Mobile ecosystem ready to maximise use of 6 GHz as GSMA urges policymakers to unlock spectrum for mobile,” September 7, 2026
2GSMA Intelligence, Mobile Investment Needs in Europe, 2026, p. 39
3GSMA Intelligence, The Mobile Economy Europe 2026, 2026, p. 13
4Connect Europe, State of Digital Communications 2026, 2026, p. 33
5Ookla, Global State of Wi-Fi 2026, 2026
6University of Notre Dame, Ghosh Lab, “New Technical Report Released: Real-World 6 GHz Spectrum Wi-Fi Deployment Analysis,” August 31, 2026.
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