WInnForum establishes task group for UK 6 GHz spectrum coordination framework

Establishing a technical framework for UK 6 GHz spectrum coordination is a critical step for expanding high-capacity wireless throughput in the region. By adapting FCC-based standards for Ofcom compliance, the industry avoids fragmentation and accelerates the deployment of standard-power devices that support data-heavy streaming applications. This move aligns the UK with global 6 GHz trends, providing a predictable regulatory environment for hardware manufacturers and network operators. Watch for the task group's upcoming specification release to see how closely UK AFC requirements diverge from established North American technical benchmarks.

The Wireless Innovation Forum's new Ofcom AFC Task Group enters a landscape where Automated Frequency Coordination systems have already achieved commercial maturity in North America. In February 2024, Wi-Fi Alliance Services announced final FCC approval for commercial operations of its Wi-Fi AFC system, making it available to support 6 GHz outdoor and standard power Wi-Fi deployments across service provider, enterprise, and retail markets. The FCC had approved seven AFC systems in total, including those operated by Qualcomm, Federated Wireless, Sony, Comsearch, the Wireless Broadband Alliance, and Broadcom, all of which completed rigorous lab testing and public trials before receiving authorization to manage frequency access in the 5925-7125 MHz band.

The regulatory framework that the UK task group must adapt is well established in the United States. The FCC's 6 GHz rules define standard power access points that can operate indoors or outdoors, with an AFC database determining available channels and power levels, and requiring EIRP limits of 21 dBm above 30-degree antenna elevation angles for outdoor installations. Wi-Fi Alliance hosted a multi-vendor AFC DUT Test Harness event in May 2023 with Broadcom, Cisco, Extreme Networks, LitePoint, MediaTek, Qualcomm, and RUCKUS Networks, validating that standard power devices could operate in conformance with regulatory requirements under AFC system control. The event confirmed compliance with the Wi-Fi Alliance System to Device Interface specification across both standalone and non-standalone device implementations.

For the UK market, the technical challenge centers on adapting these proven North American protocols to Ofcom's specific interference-protection requirements. The Wi-Fi AFC platform itself is built on an open-source core component called Open AFC and provides a configurable system designed to fulfill national regulatory agency requirements while accommodating future improvements as the 6 GHz AFC ecosystem evolves. The service is compliant with the Wi-Fi Alliance AFC System to AFC Device Interface specification and offers onboarding support for vendors preparing certification and commercial rollout of standard power devices. Recent forecasts cited by Wi-Fi Alliance indicate that standard power 6 GHz devices will drive a 50 percent or greater increase in overall Wi-Fi access point shipments by 2028, underscoring the commercial urgency behind establishing UK coordination frameworks that align with this global trajectory.