The UK Spectrum Policy Forum (SPF) has submitted a report to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) which outlines a set of new recommendations to drive the development of 6G.

The SPF was set up at the request of government and Ofcom to act as a pro-active, industry-led ‘sounding board’ on future policy and approaches on spectrum.

The organisation has said that the government must mobilise Britain’s long-term research resources and capability now if the UK is to make “an effective international contribution” to the next technology generation upgrade of national mobile and wireless infrastructures.

It advised the government to set a national 6G ambition of finding solutions to enduring mobile and wireless infrastructure problems, take action that would secure critical mass of research activity and be globally competitive, and make participation in an approved “collaboration model” a condition of 6G research grants to Universities, organise a managed and coordinated national approach to efficiently and effectively taking the results of relevant UK 6G research projects into global standards bodies, giving Universities, the research community, and UK SME’s more impact acting collectively and taking due account of their needs.

“An effective SME engagement programme with University-based 6G research has significant potential to further strengthen and diversify the UK’s supply base and export of know-how and future products, in line with the government’s Telecommunications Diversification Strategy,” said the organisation.

The SPF also suggested that ‘next generation’ satellite and unmanned aerial vehicles technology needs to be on the 6G road map and that the government should have a research priority on low-band and mid-band frequency research projects.

“As the industry voice of spectrum users in the UK, the SPF is extremely proud to have successfully facilitated this University- led 6G initiative,” said Abhaya Sumanasena, steering board chair, UK SPF and expert panel member. “This initiative is an important step in identifying how the wireless research community can contribute to help address long-term spectrum policy issues and sets a foundation for a collaboration framework that brings the University research base closer to industry, government and spectrum policy makers.

Julia Lopez, minister of state for media, data, and digital infrastructure said: “We're spending £700 million to improve 4G coverage and develop new ways for 5G to benefit society. But 6G is already on the horizon, and through our new Wireless Infrastructure Strategy we want to put the UK at the forefront of this advanced technology. I thank the Forum for its report. It highlights the fantastic work being done by our world-leading research institutions and provides some helpful recommendations which we will carefully consider."

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