Headlining the agenda at the Federal Communications Commission's July meeting is a proposal to make more intensive use of mid-band spectrum from 3.7 to 4.2 GHz, commonly called the C-band, followed by a rulemaking on the 6 GHz band in this fall.
Most countries are looking at the 3.7 to 4.2 GHz spectrum neighborhood as a prime resource for deploying 5G, and the United States is moving forward hereas well. In response to a Notice of Inquiry initiated last summer, stakeholders have come up with a number of creative ideas for making better use of 3.7 to 4.2 GHz. And next month, the FCC will vote on a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that seeks more detailed feedback on those ideas that merit further exploration.
That Notice of Inquiry also sought comment on new uses in the 6 GHz band. The FCC also plans to move forward with a rulemaking on that spectrum this fall.
At 6 GHz, a coalition of semiconductor manufacturers, equipment makers, mobile operating system vendors, and content providers representing trillions in market cap have recommended the FCC open up 1.2 gigahertz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi and other unlicensed devices.
These companies have agreed that 6 GHz is the most obvious, and technically best, band to give consumers faster and more affordable broadband. This spectrum is exopcted to enable the super highway necessary for the massive number of devices expected to come online and operate at gigabit per second speeds.
The Wi-Fi Alliance applauded the FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for maintaining momentum in the effort to expand use of the mid-band spectrum.
"Unlicensed access to the 5.925 - 7.125 GHz band is particularly important to the future of Wi-Fi innovation. This spectrum is uniquely suitable for deployment of the next generation of Wi-Fi because it offers sufficient bandwidth to alleviate data traffic congestion and provides for commonality of equipment with existing Wi-Fi networks already utilizing adjacent frequency band," the Wi-Fi Alliance said. |