Europe has moved closer to universal gigabit broadband in new buildings. Yet a critical gap remains inside homes and apartment blocks.
The Gigabit Infrastructure Act now requires fibre-ready infrastructure in new and heavily renovated buildings. Since February 12, 2026, new multi-dwelling buildings also need operator access points. This helps carriers connect residents faster and reduces deployment friction.
However, the law stops at the network termination point. That is usually the socket or building connection. Most users experience broadband over Wi-Fi, not through a direct fibre cable. This creates a difficult last-metre problem.
Europe has opened only 480 MHz of the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi. The upper 6 GHz band remains largely reserved for future mobile use. This limits available wide channels in dense housing. Apartment buildings feel the pressure first.
In a detached home, one router may work well enough. In a large apartment block, dozens of routers compete. Smart TVs, laptops, phones, meters, and thermostats all share the same air. Evening traffic can quickly degrade the user experience.
The policy tension is clear. Fibre policy pushes gigabit access into every building. Spectrum policy does not guarantee enough indoor wireless capacity. As a result, residents may receive gigabit to the door, but not to devices.
Mobile advocates want room for future 5G and 6G networks. That position reflects long-term national spectrum planning. It also supports outdoor mobility and future cellular services.
Still, indoor demand follows different economics. Wi-Fi carries most in-building traffic today. It also supports unmanaged consumer routers and managed building-wide networks. In dense housing, managed Wi-Fi can use spectrum more efficiently.
Yet coordination alone cannot create missing channels. Better planning helps reduce interference. It cannot replace wider spectrum access when many homes transmit simultaneously.
The United Kingdom has taken a different route. Ofcom supports a hybrid approach for the upper 6 GHz band. It gives Wi-Fi priority in part of the band. It also allows controlled sharing in mobile-priority areas.
European regulators still have time to adjust. The RSPG opinion remains advisory. CEPT conclusions and WRC-27 decisions will shape the final direction. These decisions will affect operators, vendors, landlords, and residents.
The debate also affects digital inclusion. Student housing, social housing, and smart buildings need reliable indoor connectivity. Energy systems and water monitoring also depend on stable wireless coverage.
As Kevin Robinson noted on Industry Shakers, indoor cellular has limits. He said cellular is unlikely to serve indoor users. That would not happen “in a way that is economically feasible”.
Europe’s challenge is not choosing Wi-Fi over mobile. It is recognizing that gigabit service needs both fibre and indoor spectrum. Without that balance, the gigabit promise may stop at the wall.
