It’s an thrilling time on this planet of Wi-Fi. The Federal Communication Fee (FCC) just lately permitted 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 to take full benefit of the 6 GHz band to assist your wireless-first technique. However what precisely is AFC and commonplace energy, who requires it, and the way can it profit you and your group?
6 GHz regulation, commonplace 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 instances to keep away from interference with different operators, corresponding to mounted satellite tv for pc and broadcast companies. To allow commonplace energy use within the 6 GHz band, there was a must agree on governance over how the 6 GHz spectrum is used.
The current determination by the FCC to approve AFC now offers us the flexibility to deploy 6 GHz utilizing commonplace energy for indoor, outside, and exterior antenna use instances. It is a important improvement that permits us to make the most of all that the 6 GHz band has to supply. And with the US and the FCC taking the lead, different international locations are sure to comply with swimsuit.
How does AFC work?
In keeping 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 gadget can transmit on any given channel, or whether or not the gadget might be allowed to ship in any respect. With out AFC, incumbents may face interference, which might degrade their capacity to speak inside the 6 GHz band.
Utilizing commonplace 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 willpower. Utilizing this location information, the AFC system queries an FCC database to establish incumbents within the neighborhood of the 6 GHz sign. If incumbents exist, the AFC will mechanically block sure channels or cut back energy to components of the spectrum.
The Cisco AFC answer interfaces with AFC cloud companies, 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 straightforward to configure by way of the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Wi-fi Controller or with the Meraki dashboard.
Determine 1. AFC standing monitoring on the Meraki dashboard.
Determine 2. Normal-power configuration within the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Wi-fi Controller.
The necessity for traditional energy
Why would anybody want commonplace energy? There are a number of causes, however the principle goal is to broadcast Wi-Fi within the 6 GHz band with extra energy in each outside and indoor areas. This consists of indoor areas with lofty ceilings and enormous open environments. Moreover, outside areas can now broadcast within the 6 GHz band, which is just allowed in standard-power mode. The general purpose is to offer dependable, quick, and uninterrupted companies to customers.
Let’s discuss a couple of examples. Take into consideration outside areas at resorts and sports activities stadiums and the way they join visitors to point-of-sale methods, ticketing, and extra. One other instance is in manufacturing. Think about a manufacturing unit ground with automated guided autos (AGVs) and autonomous cellular robots (AMRs) linked reliably over distance.
To be taught extra about 6 GHz Wi-Fi in manufacturing, ensure that to register for this upcoming webinar.
Healthcare is one other instance—huge buildings with lengthy hallways and hovering atriums in addition to massive outside areas. Docs, employees, 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 commonplace energy. With commonplace 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 crucial information recordsdata, and dependable entry to cloud functions. In terms of 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 commonplace 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, training, authorities, sensible buildings, sensible cities, and extra can reap the benefits of commonplace energy 6 GHz wi-fi to enhance connectivity and ship functions at increased speeds with enhanced safety, each indoor and outside. 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 in the marketplace, 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 got 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 workforce 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 diminished time-to-value for digital initiatives.”
Cisco Wi-fi knowledgeable Anand Gurumurthy additionally writes about Wi-Fi 7 and says in his newest submit, “[Wi-Fi 7] presents 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 units connecting to right this moment’s wi-fi networks, together with anticipated progress, 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 following era of functions are driving a brand new wi-fi actuality.
We have now AFC now, it’s time to begin dreaming up new use instances. Take a look at your wants, consider your community, and see how one can profit from standard-power Wi-Fi 6E.
To be taught extra in regards to the Cisco Wi-Fi 6E portfolio, go to the Cisco Wi-fi product web page
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