BLOG: New Report Demonstrates Critical Need for Additional Unlicensed Spectrum to Meet Growing Demand for Enterprise Wi-Fi 

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Wi-Fi is critical to almost everything we do today, and the need for fast, reliable connectivity has never been greater. As schools, healthcare providers, stadiums, manufacturers and businesses increasingly rely on dense networking structures, the demand for Wi-Fi has surged –and more unlicensed spectrum is needed to keep up.

A new report from ABI Research underscores how important it is that policymakers not only protect existing spectrum but also allocate additional bands for unlicensed use to meet the growing demand for Wi-Fi. The report builds on ABI’s 2024 analysis, which showed a sharp upward trajectory of residential Wi-Fi market demand, and highlighted the importance of allocating additional spectrum resources for consumers.

Key industry trends identified in the report:

  • Growing demand: The report makes clear that there continues to be skyrocketing demand for Wi-Fi in business settings. Annual global shipments of 6 GHz-enabled Wi-Fi chipsets soared from 200 million in 2022 to 1.1 billion in 2025 and are projected to reach 2.6 billion in 2030 – a 136% increase in just five years!
  • Cross-sector statistics: Explosive demand is seen across critical industries. For example, the overwhelming majority (nearly 74%) of the education market is expected to transition to 6 GHz-enabled technology by 2030. Healthcare is also seeing rapid adoption, with a 151% surge in 6 GHz-enabled Wi-Fi infrastructure shipments between 2023 and 2025, and a further projected increase of almost 60% by 2030.
  • Use of the 6 GHz band: U.S. businesses are utilizing the entirety of the 6 GHz band and capitalizing on the forward-thinking spectrum policies that give them a competitive edge and make the U.S. a leader in global wireless policy. Any attempts to disrupt access to the band for unlicensed use would be detrimental to the industries that rely on this connectivity, as well as the broader U.S. economy.
  • Calls for additional spectrum: To meet the rapid increases in demand, the report underscores the need to expand unlicensed spectrum allocation into the lower 7 GHz band. Allocating just the 7125 – 7250 MHz portion of the lower 7 GHz band would serve as a natural continuation and unlock an additional 320 MHz channel, which would result in significantly lower latencies for next-generation Wi-Fi technology.

In 2020, the Trump administration’s FCC made the historic decision to unlock the entire 6 GHz band for unlicensed use–a move that has unlocked trillions in economic benefits. However, ABI’s report is the latest in a series of growing research demonstrating that demand for unlicensed spectrum via Wi-Fi is outpacing existing supply.

It’s up to policymakers to shape spectrum policies of the future and ensure that Wi-Fi can continue its proven track record of delivering for American families and businesses every day. Expansion into the 7 GHz band is a forward-thinking and natural next step to ensuring the U.S. maintains its global dominance and keeps up with rising Wi-Fi demand.

For more details and a comprehensive analysis of how spectrum policy will shape the future of enterprise Wi-Fi, the full ABI Research report is available here.