With the commercial launch of 6G services targeted for around 2030, the European Union’s Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG) has initiated a decisive and forward-thinking strategy to secure the necessary spectrum well in advance of the technology’s widespread deployment. This proactive stance is detailed in a new “Draft RSPG Opinion on a 6G Spectrum Roadmap,” a document that builds upon a prior strategic vision report and aims to provide a clear assessment of spectrum availability while 6G is still in its nascent stages. The RSPG is currently inviting public comments on this draft until March 27, 2026, with the ultimate objective of cultivating a unified European ecosystem for 6G network and terminal equipment. This coordinated effort is designed to ensure that the transformative benefits of next-generation connectivity are accessible to all citizens, serving as a catalyst for significant industrial, societal, and economic advancement from 2030 onwards.
A Multi-Faceted Spectrum Strategy
The European roadmap for 6G spectrum allocation is not centered on a single frequency but rather embraces a comprehensive, multi-band approach to ensure versatility and broad coverage. A core principle of the strategy is the implementation of 6G across all existing frequency bands that have already been harmonized for mobile broadband services. This includes a wide range of spectrum assets, from the low-frequency sub-1 GHz bands (700, 800, and 900 MHz), prized for their extensive reach and in-building penetration, to a variety of mid-bands (1.5, 1.8, 2, 2.6, and 3.6 GHz) that offer a balance of capacity and coverage. Furthermore, existing high-bands, such as the 26 and 42 GHz ranges, will also be incorporated to deliver ultra-high-speed, low-latency services in dense urban areas. Based on this foundational approach, the RSPG has issued a clear recommendation for equipment vendors to begin the development of 6G-capable hardware for these established frequencies, signaling a commitment to a smooth and evolutionary transition from 5G to 6G. A pivotal element of the proposed roadmap is the designation of the upper 6 GHz band, specifically the 6425-7125 MHz range, as the primary and most suitable spectrum for the initial rollout of 6G services in Europe. This band is considered indispensable for enabling the advanced use cases and applications that will define the 6G era, which demand significantly greater capacity and lower latency than current 5G networks can provide. The decision to prioritize this spectrum for licensed mobile networks followed a period of intense debate, as both the mobile and Wi-Fi industries had identified this range as a critical resource for their respective future developments. The RSPG’s position, which was finalized in a November 2025 opinion, ultimately favored licensed 6G over unlicensed Wi-Fi. Consequently, the group has recommended that the European Commission allocate a substantial 540 MHz of this band to mobile operators, while holding the remaining 160 MHz in reserve pending key decisions at the World Radiocommunication Conference in 2027 (WRC-27).
Future-Proofing and Structural Evolution
While establishing a clear path for initial 6G deployment, the RSPG is also actively exploring additional frequency bands to future-proof the network against escalating data demands. The group is investigating spectrum that has not yet been identified for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT), including the 7125-7250 MHz band, which is already slated for study at the upcoming WRC-27. Beyond this, the long-term vision extends into very high-frequency bands, including sub-terahertz (sub-THz) ranges, which are the subject of ongoing international research and development. These higher frequencies hold the potential for unprecedented data rates and will be crucial for specialized applications in the more distant future. Recognizing that the demand for spectrum is perpetually increasing, the RSPG has also underscored the essential need for advanced spectrum sharing solutions. It is actively encouraging both academia and industry to pioneer more efficient and dynamic sharing mechanisms that will allow different services to coexist harmoniously within the same frequency bands, thereby maximizing the utility of this finite resource.
This strategic planning for 6G spectrum is accompanied by a significant organizational transformation within the EU’s regulatory framework. Under the newly proposed Digital Networks Act (DNA), the Radio Spectrum Policy Group is set to evolve into the Radio Spectrum Policy Body (RSPB). This change represents more than a simple renaming; the RSPB will be elevated to the full status of an official EU body, granting it greater authority and resources to oversee the complex landscape of spectrum management across the Union. To support its expanded mandate, the new body will be assisted by a newly created Office for Digital Networks (ODN), which will be based in Riga, Latvia. The ODN will not only provide critical administrative and technical support to the RSPB but will also extend its assistance to other key European regulatory bodies, fostering greater coherence and collaboration in the governance of the digital single market. This structural evolution cemented the EU’s commitment to a robust and unified approach to digital infrastructure policy, which was deemed essential for navigating the technological and geopolitical challenges of the next decade.