(^14) DESIGN WORLD — EE NETWORK 6 • 2019 eeworldonline.com | designworldonline.com
TEST & MEASUREMENT HANDBOOK
What you should know
about Wi-Fi 6 in the 6 GHz band
Wi-Fi technology turns 20 this year, and it has proven to
be successful beyond the wildest expectations. The recent
announcement by the FCC to consider allowing 1,200 MHz of
spectrum in the 6 GHz band for unlicensed use, as well as similar
work in the E.U., promises to free up enough spectrum to move
Wi-Fi forward into a new era of high performance.
In late 2018, the FCC released a notice of proposed rulemaking
to promote new opportunities for unlicensed use in portions of
the 1,200 MHz of spectrum in the 5.925-7.125 (6 GHz) band. Wi-
Fi users should rejoice, as Wi-Fi in the 6-GHz band could become
a reality in 2020. To understand why this event is cause for
celebration, we examine the reasons that make the 6 GHz band
compelling for unlicensed use and why additional spectrum is so
badly needed to sustain Wi-Fi growth.
Cisco’s annual Mobile Visual Networking Index (VNI)
forecasts that by 2022, Wi-Fi will carry 51% of global IP traffic,
more than any other wired or wireless access technology, while
the total number of Wi-Fi hotspots (including home spots) is
expected to reach 549 million by 2022.
Wi-Fi carries more internet traffic than any other wireless
technology. And this took place despite an available frequency
range of less than 600 MHz (70 MHz in the 2.4-GHz band, 500
MHz in the 5-GHz band). But a study commissioned by the Wi-Fi
Alliance predicts an 800-MHz spectrum shortfall to handle traffic
by 2020, with that shortfall growing to 1.12 GHz by 2025. The
study stresses the importance of making available continuous
spectrum to enable 160-MHz-wide channels (or future 320 MHz).
The 6-GHz band and its 1,200 MHz of contiguous spectrum
can fulfill the growth requirements, and this is why the FCC is
currently considering it.
While there are still interference issues to
be resolved, new specifications for Wi-Fi
in the 6-GHz band will bring instantly
better wireless performance.
EVE DANEL | LITEPOINT
Channel 1
Local AP Neighbor AP
Channel 1
Channel 38
(40 MHz)
Channel 36
(20 MHz)
Local AP Neighbor AP
Chan 38
Chan 36
5,170 MHz 5,190 MHz 5,210 MHz
Devices on the same channel and on
adjacent or overlapping channels can be
part of the same contention domain.
Litepoint — Test and Measurement HB 06-19.indd 14 6/10/19 9:28 AM
amelia
(Amelia)
#1