The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has decided to open the entire 6GHz frequency band for use by very low power (VLP) devices. This will allow these devices to operate over a wide range of frequencies and potentially improve many services that people use every day, such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, AR and VR devices, portable internet hotspots, and IoT devices.
VLP devices are typically small gadgets that use very little energy when transmitting data over short distances. Since they run on low power, they can connect quickly and efficiently without causing much disruption to other devices. As such, they're ideal for use in wearable technology, augmented reality, and even car gadgets.
Currently, VLP devices mainly operate in the 5GHz band, with frequencies ranging from 5.925 to 6.425GHz (U-NII-5) and 6.525 to 6.875GHz (U-NII-7). Many unlicensed applications, including Wi-Fi6E and the upcoming Wi-Fi7, use these bands. Now, the entire 6GHz band is open to VLP devices, which will be able to operate in the 6.425-6.525GHz (U-NII-6) and 6.875-7.125GHz (U-NII-8) bands, making connectivity more seamless.
The FCC's new rules will allow these VLP devices to use 350 MHz of spectrum in a specific portion of the 6GHz band. In addition, other parts of the band have also been approved for use. Opening up entire frequencies means there are no longer restrictions on where these devices can operate. They also don’t need to be controlled by complex systems that govern frequency usage. Instead, they only need to follow simple rules to prevent interference with other existing services.
VLP devices operating in the 6GHz band must follow specific guidelines, such as a contention-based protocol (which allows multiple devices to take turns transmitting data, thus sharing the same frequency). VLP equipment must also implement transmit power control, adjusting the transmit power according to the surrounding environment and conditions to ensure that it does not emit stronger signals than necessary.
The FCC also said in its statement that this frequency expansion will have a positive impact on the economy. Unlicensed technologies like Wi-Fi are likely to generate huge economic activity in the coming years as it will prompt manufacturers to build more devices that can effectively connect and communicate with each other.
FCC(PDF)