Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 add the 6 GHz band. What UK organisations should know about the spectrum available, which devices can use it and what changes in design.
Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 access points can operate in the 6 GHz band as well as 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. For organisations with congested networks, 6 GHz offers clean spectrum and wider channels. It also brings new design considerations, and the UK rules differ depending on which part of the band is used and what type of device is using it.
The UK 6 GHz picture at a glance
The 6 GHz band runs from 5925 to 7125 MHz. In the UK it is treated as two parts: the lower 6 GHz band and the upper 6 GHz band.
| Spectrum | Position for Wi-Fi | Who can use it |
|---|---|---|
| Lower 6 GHz, 5925–6425 MHz | Licence-exempt since 2020 | Low power indoor (LPI) and very low power (VLP) devices |
| Lower 6 GHz, higher power | Decided by Ofcom in 2026; being implemented | Standard-power and outdoor devices under automated frequency coordination (AFC) |
| Upper 6 GHz, 6425–6585 MHz | Wi-Fi priority portion, decided by Ofcom in July 2026; being implemented | LPI and VLP devices, plus higher-power and outdoor devices under AFC |
| Upper 6 GHz, 6585–7125 MHz | Mobile priority portion | Wi-Fi devices under AFC control only |
Lower 6 GHz: available today
Ofcom made the lower 6 GHz band, 5925 to 6425 MHz, available for licence-exempt Wi-Fi in 2020. That is 500 MHz of spectrum, enough for 24 channels at 20 MHz, 12 at 40 MHz, six at 80 MHz or three at 160 MHz. Two power classes apply:
- Low power indoor (LPI): up to 250 mW EIRP, indoor use only. This is the mode used by most enterprise access points.
- Very low power (VLP): up to 25 mW EIRP, indoor or outdoor, intended for short-range devices.
For most indoor enterprise deployments planned today, this is the 6 GHz spectrum to design around.
Higher power and outdoor use with AFC
In January 2026 Ofcom decided to allow higher-power and outdoor Wi-Fi in the lower 6 GHz band, provided devices operate under an automated frequency coordination (AFC) system. An AFC system is a database service that tells each access point which frequencies and power levels it may use at its location, so that other users of the band are protected.
In July 2026 Ofcom set out how AFC service providers will be registered and the technical requirements for devices under AFC control, and said it would make the implementing regulations in autumn 2026. Treat standard-power and outdoor 6 GHz as an emerging option: it needs AFC-capable access points, a registered AFC service and the regulations to be in force. Check the current position before relying on it for a project, for example a warehouse yard, campus or stadium.
Upper 6 GHz: shared between Wi-Fi and mobile
In July 2026 Ofcom also decided how the upper 6 GHz band, 6425 to 7125 MHz, will be shared:
- Wi-Fi priority portion, 6425–6585 MHz. Licence-exempt Wi-Fi on the same basis as the lower band: LPI and VLP devices, with outdoor and higher-power use only under AFC. This adds a further 160 MHz, the equivalent of eight more 20 MHz channels or one more 160 MHz channel.
- Mobile priority portion, 6585–7125 MHz. Prioritised for future mobile networks, which Ofcom does not expect to use the band before 2030. Wi-Fi can use this portion only under AFC control, so that its use can be managed as mobile networks are deployed.
Ofcom has consulted on the regulations and technical requirements needed to put the Wi-Fi priority portion into effect. Until they are in force, and until your equipment supports these channels under UK rules, plan on the lower 6 GHz band.
Not every device can use every part of the band
- Access points must support the channels and power classes permitted in the UK and be set to the UK regulatory domain. Upper 6 GHz channels and AFC operation may need newer hardware or firmware.
- Client devices need Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 radios, and their operating system and drivers must enable 6 GHz for the UK. Support for channels above 6425 MHz is likely to vary, particularly on earlier 6 GHz devices.
- Outdoor and higher-power operation is limited to devices under AFC control.
What changes in design?
- Slightly less range. Higher frequencies lose a little more signal over distance and through some materials than 5 GHz. A 5 GHz design is not automatically a 6 GHz design, so 6 GHz should be modelled and validated in its own right.
- Client support decides the benefit. Only devices with Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 radios can use 6 GHz. An estate of older laptops and scanners will see no benefit until devices are refreshed.
- Security requirements. 6 GHz requires WPA3 (or Enhanced Open for open networks). Legacy security settings will need to be reviewed.
- Discovery is different. Clients typically find 6 GHz networks through information advertised on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, so the overall design across bands still matters.
- Wider channels are a choice, not a default. More spectrum makes 80 MHz and wider channels practical, but channel width should still follow density and capacity requirements.
Is it worth it?
For high-density spaces and organisations with a modern device estate, 6 GHz can make a significant difference. For others, a well-designed 5 GHz network may be the better investment today, with 6 GHz-capable access points installed ready for future clients. The right answer depends on your devices, your building and your requirements, which is exactly what a predictive design should establish.
This article summarises the UK position for planning purposes as at 18 October 2026. It is not regulatory advice. For the current rules, see Ofcom’s statements on expanding access to the 6 GHz band and enabling automated frequency coordination in the 6 GHz band.