Ofcom Explores Hybrid Sharing of 6GHz Spectrum for Wi-Fi and Mobile

The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, is exploring a new approach to sharing the upper 6GHz spectrum band between Wi-Fi and mobile networks. This band is currently a focus for industry interest, with some companies wanting to use it exclusively for mobile use, while others want to use it for Wi-Fi.

Ofcom’s proposed “hybrid sharing” approach would allow both Wi-Fi and mobile to use the band, but in different ways. For example, Wi-Fi could be used indoors, while mobile could be used outdoors. Or, Wi-Fi could be prioritized in areas of high demand, while mobile could be used in other areas.

Ofcom is still in the early stages of exploring this approach, and is inviting comments from the industry by September 15, 2023. If the approach is successful, it could help to meet the growing demand for data traffic from both Wi-Fi and mobile users.

Here are some of the benefits of hybrid sharing:

It could help to meet the growing demand for data traffic from both Wi-Fi and mobile users.
It could reduce the need for new spectrum auctions, which can be expensive and time-consuming.
It could lead to economies of scale for equipment manufacturers, which could lower the cost of devices for consumers.

Here are some of the challenges of hybrid sharing:

It will be important to ensure that Wi-Fi and mobile can coexist in the same band without interfering with each other.
It will be necessary to develop new technical standards to support hybrid sharing.
There may be regulatory challenges to overcome, as different countries may have different rules for spectrum sharing.

Overall, hybrid sharing is a promising approach to meeting the growing demand for data traffic from both Wi-Fi and mobile users. However, there are still some challenges that need to be overcome before it can be implemented.