Podcast: Does Europe’s 6G spectrum strategy have a clear direction?

As we welcome 2025, we are less than five years away from the expected deployment date of 6G. Many questions remain, including which bands this new mobile technology will use, and what role sharing will play. Some are also beginning to wonder whether Europe is in a position to make the most of 6G.

In the latest episode of our podcast, we speak to Marja Matinmikko-Blue about a new report published by the Radio Spectrum Policy GroupRSPG stands for the Radio Spectrum Policy … (RSPG). The report, “6G Strategic vision”, summarises the perspectives from various stakeholders, including vendors, operators, academia and satellite companies, thereby providing insight into the state of 6G discussions in Europe.

Matinmikko-Blue is the director of sustainability and regulation at the 6G Flagship research programme at the University of Oulu. A leading academic voice in 6G research, she made major contributions to the RSPG’s report, providing perspectives from the research community.

Matinmikko-Blue says that so far, Europe’s approach to 6G spectrum has been more uncertain than it was in the 5G era, when the European Union’s 5G pioneer bandsThe 5G pioneer bands are a set of spectrum… provided academia with a clear focus.

The RSPG’s 6G report hints at various spectrum ranges, including 7–15 GHz, but does not nominate any specific spectrum bands for 6G apart from the highly contested upper 6 GHz band. While a follow-up report by the RSPG is expected soon, identifying more frequency bands for 6G, there is no focus on any specific bands yet.

The RSPG report also downplays the role of ultra-high frequencies known as sub-THz (terahertz) spectrum for 6G, suggesting their use will likely be limited to specific use cases. Matinmikko-Blue says that initial 6G research was focused on sub-THz spectrum and many academics were surprised to find vendors and mobile operators downplaying this spectrum range.

Listen to the new podcast below. You can also find it on all major podcast platforms.