ETSI EN 303 687

ETSI EN 303 687 is a harmonised European standard that specifies technical characteristics and methods of measurement for Wireless Access Systems, including Radio Local Area Network (WAS/RLAN) equipment, operating in the 6 GHz band from 5.945 GHz to 6.425 GHz. It supports the efficient use of radio spectrum under Article 3(2) of the Radio Equipment Directive (RED) 2014/53/EU.

The standard is technology-neutral. It can apply to equipment implementing Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7, but it does not define the IEEE 802.11ax or IEEE 802.11be radio technologies or their features.

Scope and Equipment Categories

EN 303 687 V1.1.1 applies to equipment operating in all or part of the 5.945–6.425 GHz band under the European LPI and VLP categories:

• Low Power Indoor (LPI) access points or bridges

• Low Power Indoor (LPI) client devices

• Very Low Power (VLP) devices, including provisions for narrowband VLP operation

The standard does not cover Standard Power equipment using Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC). The US U-NII-5 to U-NII-8 designations are not part of its European scope.

Equipment within the scope may include access points, client devices, routers, mesh nodes and integrated radio modules, provided that the applicable LPI or VLP requirements are met.

Key Technical Requirements

The standard defines requirements and test methods for:

• Nominal centre frequencies and channel operation within 5.945–6.425 GHz

• Channel operation based on individual 20 MHz channels, including simultaneous operation on adjacent or non-adjacent channels

• RF output power and power spectral density

• Transmitter unwanted emissions inside and outside the 6 GHz WAS/RLAN band

• Receiver spurious emissions, blocking and selectivity

• Channel access mechanisms using Clear Channel Assessment (CCA), including frame-based and load-based operation with Listen Before Talk (LBT)

• Mechanical and electrical design requirements and restrictions on user access to settings that could affect compliance

Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS), as used for certain 5 GHz RLAN bands, is not a requirement of EN 303 687. Wi-Fi 7 features such as 320 MHz channels, puncturing and multi-link operation are not specified by this edition of the ETSI standard.

Certification and Compliance

EN 303 687 V1.1.1 has been cited in the Official Journal of the European Union since 15 May 2025 by Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2025/893. Applying the cited standard can provide a presumption of conformity with the essential requirement in Article 3(2) of the RED, subject to two restrictions:

• It does not provide a presumption of conformity for narrowband devices as defined in clause 3.1 of the standard.

• It does not provide a presumption of conformity where clause B.7.2 of the standard is applied.

Manufacturers remain responsible for the conformity assessment, the technical documentation and the EU Declaration of Conformity (DoC). Testing by an accredited laboratory may support the assessment, but it is not a general requirement imposed by the RED for every product.

The current published edition is ETSI EN 303 687 V1.1.1, issued in June 2023.