FCC Allows Consumer Products to Access More 6GHz Spectrum
FCC Allows Consumer Products to Access More 6GHz Spectrum
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FCC Allows Consumer Products to Access More 6GHz Spectrum, Benefiting Apple
Previously, the super-fast and short-range 6GHz spectrum was mostly reserved for licensed commercial use.
However, the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has now authorized companies like Apple to utilize more of this spectrum for unlicensed consumer products.
Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, and other companies applied to the FCC back in 2019, requesting non-licensed access to the entire 1,200 MHz spectrum of the 6GHz frequency band.

The rules permitting unlicensed devices to use the 6GHz spectrum were drafted in 2020 and have finally received approval on October 19, 2023.
According to a document released by the FCC, more 6GHz spectrum is now available for unlicensed use, particularly for ultra-low-power devices. This distinction for ultra-low-power devices helps safeguard against interference with licensed applications, such as telecommunications.
Devices operating within the U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 portions of the 6GHz spectrum (a total of 850 MHz) can take advantage of short-range high-speed data transmission capabilities. While this information might not be directly relevant to consumers, it is highly beneficial for product development, enhancing the future capabilities of devices.
Previously, the FCC had opened up a 1.2 GHz spectrum range between 5.925 GHz and 7.125 GHz, which played a significant role in the implementation of Wi-Fi 6E and will contribute to the development of Wi-Fi 7.
For instance, close-range, low-power device operations could be applicable to systems like CarPlay, future models of AirTags, Apple HomeKit devices, and Apple Vision Pro. As data usage on devices continues to grow, the 6GHz bandwidth will become increasingly crucial.
FCC Allows Consumer Products to Access More 6GHz Spectrum, Benefiting Apple