Study urges policymakers to release additional spectrum for Wi-Fi to spur next-generation technologies, meet demand, allow American consumers to realize the full benefits of broadband investments, and maintain U.S. global leadership. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, ABI Research – a leading global technology advisory firm – released a new report highlighting the urgent need for additional unlicensed spectrum to meet skyrocketing consumer demand for Wi-Fi technologies. The report notes that doing so will promote continued Wi-Fi innovation, help maintain U.S. leadership abroad, and ensure that consumers realize the full benefits of the sizeable investments already being made in U.S. broadband infrastructure.  

The ABI report confirms that unlicensed spectrum available in the 6 GHz band – allocated by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2020 – is insufficient to keep up with rising demand. The report notes that expansion into the 7 GHz band is a uniquely smart solution for regulators, as the 7 GHz band – and the multiple 320 megahertz channels it can provide – is well-suited for home networks and can be used without disrupting existing wireless usage.  

The report identifies certain key industry trends confirming the need for more Wi–Fi spectrum: 

• The number of 6 GHz-enabled Wi-Fi consumer devices shipped annually to North America is projected to grow from 95 million in 2024 to 367 million in 2029 – an increase of 288% in just five years. 
• By the end of the decade, a majority of U.S. households will be served with high-speed Wi-Fi(multi-gigabit speeds), configured to use the 320 megahertz-wide channels that were introduced with Wi-Fi 7. 
• The embedded base of Wi-Fi devices with sensingcapabilities will reach nearly 115 million in North America by 2030, further increasing pressure on unlicensed spectrum that is being used for communications.  

“It should come as no surprise that research finds additional unlicensed spectrum necessary to support the ongoing advancement of Wi-Fi technologies and the ever–growing number of Wi–Fi–enabled devices in our lives,” said Mary Brown, Executive Director of WifiForward. “The U.S. leads Wi-Fi innovation on the global stage, but policymakers must be proactive to meet growing demand, extend U.S. leadership, and ensure Wi-Fi can continue delivering for Americans. We look forward to continued collaboration with policymakers to address today’s spectrum challenges and meet America’s broadband needs for decades to come.” 

This research adds to a growing body of evidence demonstrating that Americans rely heavily on Wi-Fi. Up to 90% of all mobile device traffic is carried on Wi-Fi, with a recent Opensignal report finding that, even outside the home, people overwhelmingly (75-84%) rely on Wi-Fi.  

You can read the full report here.  

Press Contact: media@wififorward.org  

About WifiForward: 

WifiForward is an ad hoc, broad-based group of companies, organizations and public sector institutions working to alleviate the Wi-Fi spectrum crunch and to support making Wi-Fi even better by finding more unlicensed spectrum. 

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