FCC throws open 6 GHz band to unlicensed low-power gizmos

America's telecoms regulator has opened up the entire 6 GHz frequency band to very low-power devices, alongside other unlicensed applications such as Wi-Fi kit.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said it has adopted extra rules to allow very low-power device operation across the entire 1,200 MHz of the 6 GHz band, from 5.925 to 7.125 GHz, within the US.

The agency had already opened up 850 MHz of the band to small mobile devices a year ago, and has now decided to open up the remaining 350 MHz.

It hopes that this will give a shot in the arm to an ecosystem of short-range devices such as wearables, healthcare monitors, short-range mobile hotspots, and in-car devices that will be able to make use of this spectrum without the need of a license.

These applications often call for low power transmission across short distances, but at very high connection speeds, the FCC says – otherwise, existing technologies like Bluetooth could suffice.

"This 1,200 MHz means unlicensed bandwidth with a mix of high capacity and low latency that is absolutely prime for immersive, real-time applications," said Jessica Rosenworcel, the FCC's outgoing chair. "These are the airwaves where we can develop wearable technologies and expand access to augmented and virtual reality in ways that will provide new opportunities in education, healthcare, and entertainment."

Because these are such low-power devices, no restrictions have been placed on where they can be used, and they will not be required to operate under the control of an automatic frequency coordination system, as some Wi-Fi equipment must to avoid interference with existing services that use the 6 GHz spectrum.

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However, to minimize the risk of any potential interference, the devices will be required to implement a transmit power control mechanism and employ a contention-based protocol, requiring a device to listen to the channel before transmission. They are, however, prohibited from operating as part of any fixed outdoor infrastructure.

This decision from the FCC has already been greeted by some, notably the Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA), an industry lobbying body.

"We applaud the FCC for delivering on a broadly shared goal of maximizing the use of broadband-ready wireless spectrum," CCIA Senior VP Stephanie Joyce said in a statement, noting that the agency has made "significant strides" in authorizing more uses of spectrum for the digital services industry under Rosenworcel's leadership.

All this applies only inside the US as the 6 GHz frequency band is allocated differently elsewhere. In the UK, for example, the lower 6 GHz band (5,925-6,425 MHz) is available for license-exempt use for technologies such as Wi-Fi, while the upper 6 GHz band (6,425-7,125 MHz) is to be shared with cell networks. China last year earmarked the upper 6 GHz band exclusively for 5G and 6G services. ®