FCC Doubles Unlicensed WiFi Spectrum in 5 GHz Band

FCC Doubles Unlicensed WiFi Spectrum in 5 GHz Band

As expected, the FCC voted 5-0 Monday to loosen the rules on lower 5 GHz spectrum to allow for indoor use and higher power levels, so long as that does not interfere with mobile satellite service in the band.

The move adds 100 MHz of unlicensed spectrum to the Wi-Fi pot. Both Republican commissioners made a point of saying that it would provide a boost to the hundreds of thousands of hot spots cable ops have been rolling out.

“This enormous addition to the Wi-Fi spectrum pool will not only alleviate congestion, it paves the way for the adoption of the next generation of Wi-Fi technology, which engineers call 802.11ac,” Comcast executive VP and CTO Tony Werner wrote in a blog post. “This new technology will enable Comcast and others to offer Wi-Fi speeds approaching 1Gbps – that’s why many refer to it as Gigabit Wi-Fi.  Once Gigabit Wi-Fi is deployed, consumers will be able enjoy high quality HD video on their tablets, laptops, and smartphones, in their homes or outdoors, without the annoying pauses and quality reduction often experienced when multiple devices are sharing the same Wi-Fi connection at the same time.”
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/washing...and/130158