The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ushered in a transformative shift in wireless connectivity by opening 1200 MHz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band for unlicensed operations, supporting both next generation Wi-Fi (i.e., Wi-Fi 6E) and Fixed Wireless Access technology. This move, along with the FCC’s ratification of Standard Power operations that allow 63 times higher transmission power compared to legacy low-power limits, represents an unprecedented leap forward in connectivity.
Standard Power Wi-Fi 6E operations enabled by an Automated Frequency Coordinator* (AFC) both outdoors and indoors** provide coverage and capacity advantages that not only alleviate long-standing challenges Wi-Fi has faced such as congestion but also unlock tremendous new opportunity in Fixed Wireless Access (FWA), enterprise IoT, seamless indoor-outdoor mobility and innovation in ultra-high definition video streaming, cloud gaming, and AR/VR experiences. Not surprisingly the penetration the band has seen globally in consumer devices as well as in network equipment both for enterprise as well as FWA deployments is nothing short of incredible. With Wi-Fi 7, the next-generation Wi-Fi standard, inherently designed to capitalize on the 6 GHz spectrum, 6 GHz as a connectivity option is truly here to stay with the potential to become the cornerstone for Wi-Fi access globally.
The 6 GHz Band: A Game Changer for Fixed Wireless Access
The 6 GHz Standard Power spectrum is particularly revolutionary for FWA operators striving to provide high-quality, cost-effective broadband access across various communities, geographies and use cases, representing one of the most promising opportunities in the connectivity business:
- Enabling higher-power Wi-Fi access points for deployment in rural broadband, suburban neighborhoods, and enterprise campus networks.
- Utilizing smart spectrum management to serve multiple households with high-speed connectivity.
- Offering an alternative to fiber in rural areas where fiber deployment is too costly, making it a viable last-mile broadband solution.
Leading FWA OEMs such as Tarana and Cambium have pioneered technology development for the FWA market and continue to invest heavily in bringing truly innovative 6 GHz Standard Power access. Their investments in pushing data rates across different RF propagation environments, advanced MIMO beamforming, and interference cancellation techniques have set new performance benchmarks. These enhancements, coupled with ease of deployment and ultra-reliable service, ensure that FWA operators can meet and exceed their broadband commitments.
The Role of AFC in Enabling 6 GHz Wi-Fi Success
At the heart of 6 GHz Standard Power reliability is the AFC system, which assigns spectrum channels to access points to ensure efficient and interference-free operation. As a market and technology leading AFC service provider Federated Wireless has been working closely with the entire 6 GHz ecosystem both in the enterprise market —including enterprise Wi-Fi network and FWA manufacturers like Tarana and Cambium to ensure that the innovative OEM technologies can reach their full potential without spectrum constraints.
With its commercially available FCC-certified AFC function, Federated Wireless’s 6 GHz service provides the highest spectrum availability and the highest transmission power possible nationwide in the US and in global markets*** in the band, benefiting from extensive collaboration with OEM partners to result in the ultra-reliable, highly scalable spectrum service needed to deliver maximum potential equipment performance. With firm belief in the “better together” mindset and based on a spectrum life-cycle enablement approach, Federated has also focused heavily on integration and joint innovation with OEMs in building a comprehensive suite of services for 6GHz operations, beyond just the AFC function, that includes:
- Point and regional spectrum availability assessment tools providing complete visibility into what frequency channels and transmission powers are available and what performance can be provided to customers with specific OEM equipment on such channels
- Complete spectrum and RF planning for 6 GHz networks using their Adaptive Network Planner tool that leverages sub 1m resolution geo-data and advanced propagation modeling capabilities
- Easy-button compliance reporting such as FCC-compliant Broadband Data Collection (BDC) reporting required by FWS operators
- Complete regulatory support for a growing number of use case and deployment scenarios of interest to FWA operators
- Deep integration with OEM management systems to provide a seamless, unified deployment and management experience to FWA operators
The “Better Together” Approach: Partnering with OEMs for Greater Impact
To meet the scale and reliability that 6 GHz operators require, Federated Wireless has built on its proven cloud-scale, high-availability architecture—originally developed for its market-leading Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). This foundation enables the AFC to support millions of devices from day one while bringing advanced capabilities to 6 GHz deployments, including state-of-the-art monitoring, analytics, reporting, and carrier-grade security, all backed by award-winning 99.999% (5-9s) NOC support.
Federated Wireless partners with OEMs such as Tarana and Cambium across multiple shared spectrum bands, including CBRS and 6 GHz, delivery unique synergies for mixed deployments. By leveraging common toolsets across bands, operators benefit from a seamless user experience, a reduced learning curve and faster deployments enabled by standardized on-boarding and support processes. With single pane-of-glass management, operators gain efficiencies that simplify network management and enhance overall performance, end-user experience and overall deployment viability.
*The AFC makes spectrum available to 6GHz access points while protecting incumbents in the band. See details of Federated Wireless 6 GHz services that includes AFC functionality, as well as other tools and support needed for 6GHz network operations – https://federatedwireless.ai/products/6ghz/
**With Building Entry Loss (BEL) waiver
***Federated Wireless is working on certified AFC service, currently in trial in additional markets such as Canada
