The US Federal Communications Commission is opening up radio spectrum in the 6GHz frequency band, ushering a new era of fast, low-latency internet connections.

The decision, voted on unanimously <a style="font-weight: bold;" class="class" rel="nofollow noreferrer noopener" target="_blank" website the FCC, will add 1,200 Megahertz of Wi-Fi for unlicensed use and increase the amount of Wi-Fi spectrum by nearly fivefold.

The release of the spectrum offers new radio waves for routers, and is likely to result in better Wi-Fi service speeds, hyper-low latency and higher network capacity.

For broadband customers, there will be more airwaves that home routers can make use of to broadcast Wi-Fi signals, helping to reduce network congestion.

Tech giant Intel called it the ‘most significant contribution to Wi-Fi in nearly 20 years’, while Apple said ‘it sets the course for the next generation of Wi-Fi networks’. 

Smartphone and hardware manufacturers in the US will be focusing their efforts on marketing devices that accommodate this new spectrum – branded Wi-Fi 6E.

The European Commission is expected to follow suit with a similar decision later this year to free up 6GHz in Europe, while UK telecoms regulator Ofcom is in ‘advanced stages’ of consultation over the release of 6GHz in Britain.   

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Release of the spectrum will bring 'radical change' for the Wi-Fi industry in terms of service speed, hyper low latency and more importantly, network capacity, the Wireless Broadband Alliance has said

Release of the spectrum will bring 'radical change' for the Wi-Fi industry in terms of service speed, hyper low latency and more importantly, network capacity, the Wireless Broadband Alliance has said

Release of the spectrum will bring ‘radical change’ for the Wi-Fi industry in terms of service speed, hyper low latency and more importantly, network capacity, the Wireless Broadband Alliance has said

With the decision, the US becomes the first country in the world to open up spectrum in the 6GHz band.

The 6GHz band in the US will add to the currently-used 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands to accommodate extra broadband demand and provide faster data transfers.

No new spectrum has been made available for Wi-Fi in the US for about 20 years, and the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands are ‘crowded’, according to Intel.

This will mean more reliable internet connections for the next generation of devices – in particular ‘smart home’ devices such as connected thermostats and lights.

Devices that use the 6GHz band – Wi-Fi 6E devices – will begin to be available in the second half of this year or early 2021.  

WBA graph shows the throughput or processing rate on Wi-Fi 6E is much higher and therefore faster. While it doesn't have such a long range as the lower spectrum bands (meaning coverage area is somewhat lower), the latency is much lower, meaning less delay - for example, lower lag on video

WBA graph shows the throughput or processing rate on Wi-Fi 6E is much higher and therefore faster. While it doesn't have such a long range as the lower spectrum bands (meaning coverage area is somewhat lower), the latency is much lower, meaning less delay - for example, lower lag on video

WBA graph shows the throughput or processing rate on Wi-Fi 6E is much higher and therefore faster.

While it doesn’t have such a long range as the lower spectrum bands (meaning coverage area is somewhat lower), the latency is much lower, meaning less delay – for example, lower lag on video

Early trials of Wi-Fi 6E have already achieved speeds of 2Gbps and consistent two-millisecond low latency connections, according to telco industry association the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA).

‘Extending Wi-Fi into the 6GHz spectrum band can provide more Wi-Fi capacity than all the other bands put together,’ said Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the WBA, which has been conducting Wi-Fi 6 trials with Intel and Broadcom. 

‘What’s more, Melbourne TV Digital Antennas using Wi-Fi 6 technology in the extended band – also known as Wi-Fi 6E - will deliver higher speeds, low latency and service levels that are equivalent to 5G networks and be able to support the widespread, low-cost, use of advanced business, industrial and consumer applications.   

‘This decision from the FCC now puts pressure on regulators in other countries who will need to catch up with the US.’ 

Extra spectrum will mean home internet routers will have access to more radio waves to broadcast Wi-Fi signals

Extra spectrum will mean home internet routers will have access to more radio waves to broadcast Wi-Fi signals

Extra spectrum will mean home internet routers will have access to more radio waves to broadcast Wi-Fi signals

In the home, Wi-Fi 6E will mean no congestion when streaming films and video, new opportunities for immersive gaming experiences, as well as no buffering and much faster download speeds, Rodrigues said.  

‘In terms of the capability and capacity of networks, Wi-Fi 6E will rewrite the rules of what is possible.’

Trials in California have already demonstrated that Wi-Fi 6E meets the needs of industrial and consumer applications, including augmented and virtual reality technology, the WBA said.

<div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS sciencetech" data-version="2" id="mol-840be930-8620-11ea-b2b6-ad8815fed0a2" website to get its biggest upgrade in 20 years after FCC's 6GHz decision

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