It’s an thrilling time on the planet of Wi-Fi. The Federal Communication Fee (FCC) just lately authorized Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) for service suppliers. Including to this momentum, the FCC granted standard-power certification to a variety of Cisco Wi-fi Wi-Fi 6E entry factors. This implies you’ll be capable of take full benefit of the 6 GHz band to assist your wireless-first technique. However what precisely is AFC and normal energy, who requires it, and the way can it profit you and your group?

6 GHz regulation, normal energy, and AFC

The FCC and different regulators around the globe have guidelines round how the 6 GHz band is used. The first consideration is the safety of incumbent operators within the 6 GHz spectrum. Till now, 6 GHz Wi-Fi was restricted to low-power indoor use instances to keep away from interference with different operators, equivalent to fastened satellite tv for pc and broadcast providers. To allow normal energy use within the 6 GHz band, there was a have to agree on governance over how the 6 GHz spectrum is used.

The current resolution by the FCC to approve AFC now provides us the power to deploy 6 GHz utilizing normal energy for indoor, out of doors, and exterior antenna use instances. This can be a important improvement that permits us to make the most of all that the 6 GHz band has to supply. And with america and the FCC taking the lead, different international locations are sure to observe go well with.

How does AFC work?

In accordance with a Cisco whitepaper on 6 GHz laws, the FCC has arrange a framework the place organizations can provide AFC as a service. This AFC service will dictate how a lot energy an unlicensed 6 GHz-capable system can transmit on any given channel, or whether or not the system can be allowed to ship in any respect. With out AFC, incumbents might face interference, which might degrade their capability to speak throughout the 6 GHz band.

Utilizing normal energy requires the AFC to know the situation of the entry level. All Cisco Wi-Fi 6E entry factors, whatever the stack, can assist GPS/GNSS or use geo-location propagation methods for location dedication. Utilizing this location information, the AFC system queries an FCC database to determine incumbents within the neighborhood of the 6 GHz sign. If incumbents exist, the AFC will robotically block sure channels or cut back energy to elements of the spectrum.

The Cisco AFC answer interfaces with AFC cloud providers, per FCC necessities, and offers directors with granular visibility into the accessible spectrum and channels, in addition to the ability allocation for every.

AFC is easy to configure through the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Wi-fi Controller or with the Meraki dashboard.

Determine 1. AFC standing monitoring on the Meraki dashboard.

Determine 2. Commonplace-power configuration within the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Wi-fi Controller.

The necessity for traditional energy

Why would anybody want normal energy? There are a number of causes, however the principle function is to broadcast Wi-Fi within the 6 GHz band with extra energy in each out of doors and indoor areas. This consists of indoor areas with lofty ceilings and enormous open environments. Moreover, out of doors areas can now broadcast within the 6 GHz band, which is just allowed in standard-power mode. The general aim is to offer dependable, quick, and uninterrupted providers to customers.

Let’s speak about a couple of examples. Take into consideration out of doors areas at resorts and sports activities stadiums and the way they join company to point-of-sale programs, ticketing, and extra. One other instance is in manufacturing. Think about a manufacturing facility flooring with automated guided autos (AGVs) and autonomous cellular robots (AMRs) related reliably over distance.

To study extra about 6 GHz Wi-Fi in manufacturing, make sure that to register for this upcoming webinar.

Healthcare is one other instance—large buildings with lengthy hallways and hovering atriums in addition to giant out of doors areas. Docs, employees, and sufferers want to stay related to make sure high quality care and entry to assets.

Adventist Well being, a Cisco buyer, weighed in on the announcement. “We’re enthusiastic about certification for AFC and normal energy. With normal energy, we will prolong 6 GHz Wi-Fi throughout our campuses,” stated Ed Vanderpool, Senior Community Supervisor at Adventist Well being. “This can present our caregivers, employees, and sufferers the pace and high quality of 6 GHz Wi-Fi wherever they selected to roam, with jitter-free voice and video communications, quick entry to vital information information, and dependable entry to cloud purposes. Relating to Wi-Fi and the current FCC certifications, we belief Cisco for its reliability, functionality, and innovation.”

Register for our 6 GHz webinar with Adventist Well being right here.

Moreover, with normal energy 6 GHz Wi-Fi, cellular service suppliers can densify and prolong 5G with highly effective and dependable Wi-Fi when and the place accessible. Likewise, retail, schooling, authorities, sensible buildings, sensible cities, and extra can reap the benefits of normal energy 6 GHz wi-fi to enhance connectivity and ship purposes at increased speeds with enhanced safety, each indoor and out of doors. High quality wi-fi is a mission-critical service for all these industries.

Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7, and past

Cisco has essentially the most complete Wi-Fi 6E portfolio available on the market, and as we see Wi-Fi 7 requirements emerge, we’ll proceed to realize much more capabilities to assist a rising variety of use instances. Wi-Fi 7 builds on the work we’ve executed in Wi-Fi 6E and can take full benefit of AFC to allow the complete energy of the 6 GHz band.

One in every of my staff members and fellow wi-fi product entrepreneurs, Stefani Johnson, talked about in her current weblog submit that, “Wi-Fi 7 presents a possibility to land an exceptionally differentiated buyer expertise, elevated income and effectivity, and lowered time-to-value for digital initiatives.”

Cisco Wi-fi skilled Anand Gurumurthy additionally writes about Wi-Fi 7 and says in his newest submit, “[Wi-Fi 7] provides tremendous low latency, extra sturdy connection, increased spectral effectivity, higher interference mitigation, extra power-saving methods, higher roaming experiences, and elevated safety.”

With an unprecedented variety of gadgets connecting to as we speak’s wi-fi networks, together with anticipated progress, we’re seeing a transformational shift in connectivity throughout the locations we work, store, and dwell. It’s on this uber-connected wireless-first world that 6 GHz Wi-Fi and the subsequent era of purposes are driving a brand new wi-fi actuality.

We have now AFC now, it’s time to begin dreaming up new use instances. Have a look at your wants, consider your community, and see how one can profit from standard-power Wi-Fi 6E.

To study extra concerning the Cisco Wi-Fi 6E portfolio, go to the Cisco Wi-fi product web page

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