It’s an thrilling time on this planet of Wi-Fi. The Federal Communication Fee (FCC) not too long ago authorized Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) for service suppliers. Including to this momentum, the FCC granted standard-power certification to a spread of Cisco Wi-fi Wi-Fi 6E entry factors. This implies you’ll be capable to take full benefit of the 6 GHz band to help your wireless-first technique. However what precisely is AFC and customary energy, who requires it, and the way can it profit you and your group?

6 GHz regulation, customary energy, and AFC

The FCC and different regulators all over the world 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 circumstances to keep away from interference with different operators, similar to fastened satellite tv for pc and broadcast providers. To allow customary 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 choice by the FCC to approve AFC now offers us the power to deploy 6 GHz utilizing customary energy for indoor, out of doors, and exterior antenna use circumstances. This can be a vital growth that permits us to make the most of all that the 6 GHz band has to supply. And with the USA and the FCC taking the lead, different nations 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 supply 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 shall be allowed to ship in any respect. With out AFC, incumbents might face interference, which might degrade their skill to speak inside the 6 GHz band.

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

The Cisco AFC resolution interfaces with AFC cloud providers, per FCC necessities, and offers directors with granular visibility into the accessible spectrum and channels, in addition to the facility 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. Customary-power configuration within the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Wi-fi Controller.

The necessity for normal energy

Why would anybody want customary energy? There are a number of causes, however the primary 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 huge open environments. Moreover, out of doors areas can now broadcast within the 6 GHz band, which is simply allowed in standard-power mode. The general purpose is to supply 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 automobiles (AGVs) and autonomous cell robots (AMRs) linked reliably over distance.

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

Healthcare is one other instance—large buildings with lengthy hallways and hovering atriums in addition to massive out of doors areas. Medical doctors, workers, and sufferers want to stay linked 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 customary energy. With customary energy, we are able to prolong 6 GHz Wi-Fi throughout our campuses,” mentioned Ed Vanderpool, Senior Community Supervisor at Adventist Well being. “This may present our caregivers, workers, and sufferers the velocity and high quality of 6 GHz Wi-Fi wherever they selected to roam, with jitter-free voice and video communications, quick entry to crucial knowledge information, and dependable entry to cloud functions. With regards 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 customary energy 6 GHz Wi-Fi, cell service suppliers can densify and prolong 5G with highly effective and dependable Wi-Fi when and the place accessible. Likewise, retail, training, authorities, good buildings, good cities, and extra can reap the benefits of customary energy 6 GHz wi-fi to enhance connectivity and ship functions 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 probably 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 help a rising variety of use circumstances. Wi-Fi 7 builds on the work we have now finished in Wi-Fi 6E and can take full benefit of AFC to allow the total energy of the 6 GHz band.

One in every of my workforce members and fellow wi-fi product entrepreneurs, Stefani Johnson, talked about in her current weblog submit that, “Wi-Fi 7 presents a chance 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] presents tremendous low latency, extra strong connection, increased spectral effectivity, higher interference mitigation, extra power-saving strategies, higher roaming experiences, and elevated safety.”

With an unprecedented variety of units connecting to immediately’s wi-fi networks, together with anticipated development, we’re seeing a transformational shift in connectivity throughout the locations we work, store, and stay. It’s on this uber-connected wireless-first world that 6 GHz Wi-Fi and the subsequent technology of functions are driving a brand new wi-fi actuality.

We’ve AFC now, it’s time to begin dreaming up new use circumstances. 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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