The Federal Communications Commission has just approved the use of the 6 GHz Wi-Fi frequency band by tech giants. There will be less and less need for cables.
We don’t do what we want with Wi-Fi frequency bands. To avoid spectrum congestion, their operation is subject to the prior validation from various institutions, depending on the one in charge in the country. In the United States, it is Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for example. The big names in Tech that are Apple, Google, Meta And Microsoft have been campaigning for several years for the right to use the 6 GHz Wi-Fi frequency. The FCC has just validated it, with restrictions.
Let’s first remember that we are not talking about Wi-Fi 6 and 6E or Wi-Fi 7 technology. Wi-Fi 6E can use frequencies 2.4GHz, 5GHz And 6GHz. What Google and others got was the ability to use 6 GHz for “very low power” operations. This means that the affected Wi-Fi signals will not have a long range. The FCC agreement states that higher power use is possible, as long as it incorporates a system to avoid interference with other devices on the same frequency.
Google, Apple and Meta win the right to use the 6 GHz Wi-Fi frequency
What devices can benefit from the FCC decision? Overall, it is the sector of virtual or augmented reality who is the main beneficiary. Whether it’s AR glasses like those from Google, now withdrawn from sale, or VR headsets like the Apple Vision Pro, manufacturers now have more room to maneuver for offer models without relying on wired connection sharing. A need for flexibility that the American institution itself has recognized.
Currently, for the best experience, it is best if the device providing the wireless connection to the headset itself uses an Ethernet cable. With 6 GHz Wi-Fi, very fast and stable, no need. We will still have to wait for the process to be generalized. Today, only a few high-end devices can provide a Wi-Fi connection on this frequency, like the MacBook Pro 2023 and their M2 Pro and M2 Max versions.
Source: The Verge