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Dynamic Spectrum Alliance

DSA

The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) is a global, cross-industry, not for profit organization advocating for laws, regulations, and economic best practices that will lead to more efficient utilization of spectrum and foster innovation and affordable connectivity for all.

Lobbying Activity

Response to Policy Program - Digital Decade Compass

13 Dec 2021

The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (the DSA) broadly welcomes the draft Policy Programme, in particular its emphasis on the importance of high-quality connectivity. However, we believe that the 2030 connectivity target of “having all households covered by a gigabit network” is incomplete if it only considers the network that reaches the household premises and omits what happens between that point and the end users’ device. Wi-Fi is the wireless extension of the indoor broadband connection, providing connectivity to the last few meters up to the end-user’s device. Failing to include this important link of the connectivity chain into the draft Policy Programme, entails a high risk of failing to achieve an effective European gigabit society. In a situation where the Wi-Fi connection caps the overall connectivity levels, there is little incentive for end users to purchase the most advanced fibre offers, putting at risk the 2030 (fibre) connectivity targets. With Wi-Fi traffic doubling in Europe every three years, Wi-Fi could become the new connectivity bottleneck in two years unless sufficient spectrum is released to effectively support it. Enough spectrum for Wi-Fi is not only needed to ensure gigabit connectivity at home and the office but also to boost innovation in emerging areas such as AR/VR, holographic and haptic system as well as IoT. Considering the above, the DSA calls on the European Commission, European Parliament and Council to: 1. Explicitly include the Wi-Fi wireless interface into the gigabit connectivity target for 2030, ensuring gigabit networks are made available to Europeans up to the device, not just to the home. 2. Include a new indicator in the DESI that covers progress of availability of gigabit Wi-Fi networks “within” the household, e.g., penetration of Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 devices. 3. As part of the acknowledgement in the draft Policy Programme of the essential role played by spectrum to achieve the digital targets, and in particular a secure, performant and sustainable digital infrastructure, make the full 6 GHz band (5945-7125 MHz) available for licence-exempt use. Please find more information in the attached response.
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