It’s an interesting time in the world of Wi-Fi. The Federal Interaction Commission (FCC) recently authorized Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) for service providers. Contributing to this momentum, the FCC granted standard-power accreditation to a range of Cisco Wireless Wi-Fi 6E access points. This implies you’ll be able to make the most of the 6 GHz band to support your wireless-first method. However exactly what is AFC and basic power, who requires it, and how can it benefit you and your organization?
6 GHz regulation, basic power, and AFC
The FCC and other regulators around the globe have guidelines around how the 6 GHz band is used. The primary factor to consider is the security of incumbent operators in the 6 GHz spectrum. Until now, 6 GHz Wi-Fi was limited to low-power indoor usage cases to avoid disturbance with other operators, such as repaired satellite and broadcast services. To make it possible for standard power use in the 6 GHz band, there was a need to agree on governance over how the 6 GHz spectrum is used.
The current choice by the FCC to approve AFC now gives us the capability to release 6 GHz utilizing basic power for indoor, outdoor, and external antenna use cases. This is a substantial advancement that enables us to utilize all that the 6 GHz band has to offer. And with the United States and the FCC taking the lead, other nations are bound to do the same.
How does AFC work?
According to a Cisco whitepaper on 6 GHz guidelines, the FCC has established a framework where organizations can use AFC as a service. This AFC service will determine just how much power an unlicensed 6 GHz-capable gadget can transfer on any offered channel, or whether the device will be permitted to send out at all. Without AFC, incumbents could face interference, which would degrade their ability to communicate within the 6 GHz band.
Using basic power requires the AFC to understand the area of the access point. All Cisco Wi-Fi 6E gain access to points, no matter the stack, can support GPS/GNSS or utilize geo-location proliferation strategies for location determination. Utilizing this location data, the AFC system queries an FCC database to identify incumbents in the area of the 6 GHz signal. If incumbents exist, the AFC will instantly obstruct specific channels or decrease power to parts of the spectrum.
The Cisco AFC service user interfaces with AFC cloud services, per FCC requirements, and supplies administrators with granular exposure into the offered spectrum and channels, in addition to the power allowance for each.
AFC is basic to configure via the Cisco Catalyst 9800 Wireless Controller or with the Meraki control panel.
Figure 1. AFC status tracking on the Meraki control panel. Figure 2. Standard-power setup in the Cisco Driver 9800 Wireless Controller. The need for standard power Why would anyone need standard power? There are several
reasons, but the main function is to broadcast Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz band with more power in both outside and indoor areas. This includes indoor places
with lofty ceilings and large open environments. Additionally, outdoor areas can now relay in the 6 GHz band, which is only allowed in standard-power mode. The overall goal is to supply trustworthy, quickly, and uninterrupted services to users. Let’s talk about a couple of examples. Consider outside areas at resorts and sports stadiums and how they link guests to point-of-sale systems, ticketing, and more. Another example is in manufacturing. Envision a factory flooring with automatic directed automobiles( AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots( AMRs )linked reliably over range. To find out more about 6 GHz Wi-Fi in production, ensure to sign up for this upcoming webinar. Health care is another example– huge buildings with long hallways and soaring atriums as well as large outdoor spaces.
Medical professionals, personnel, and clients require to stay linked to make sure quality care and access to resources.
Adventist Health, a Cisco client, weighed in on the announcement.”We’re delighted about certification for AFC and standard power. With standard power, we can extend 6 GHz Wi-Fi throughout our schools,”stated Ed Vanderpool, Senior Citizen Network Supervisor
at Adventist Health. “This will provide our caretakers, staff, and patients the speed and quality of 6 GHz Wi-Fi wherever they chose to wander, with jitter-free voice and video communications, fast access to vital information files, and reliable access to cloud applications. When it comes to Wi-Fi and the recent FCC certifications, we trust Cisco for its dependability, capability, and innovation.”Register for our 6 GHz webinar with Adventist Health here. Additionally, with basic power 6 GHz Wi-Fi, mobile service providers can densify and extend 5G with powerful and dependable Wi-Fi when and where readily available. Likewise, retail, education, federal government, smart
buildings, clever cities, and more can benefit from basic power 6 GHz wireless to enhance connection and deliver applications at higher speeds with boosted security, both indoor and outside. Quality wireless is a mission-critical service for all these markets. Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7, and beyond Cisco has the most detailed Wi-Fi 6E portfolio on the market, and as we see Wi-Fi 7 requirements emerge, we’ll continue to acquire even more capabilities to support a growing variety of usage cases. Wi-Fi 7 constructs on the work we have actually performed in Wi-Fi 6E and will take full advantage of AFC to allow the complete power of the 6 GHz band.
Among my team members and fellow
wireless product online marketers, Stefani Johnson, mentioned in her current article that,” Wi-Fi 7 presents a chance to land an incredibly differentiated client experience, increased earnings and effectiveness, and minimized time-to-value for digital efforts.”Cisco Wireless specialist Anand Gurumurthy also writes about Wi-Fi 7 and says in
his newest post,”[ Wi-Fi 7] deals incredibly low latency, more robust connection, greater spectral effectiveness, better interference mitigation, more power-saving strategies, much better roaming experiences, and increased security.”With an unprecedented number of gadgets linking to today’s cordless networks, in addition to expected development, we are seeing a transformational shift in connectivity throughout the locations we work, shop, and live. It’s in this uber-connected wireless-first world that 6 GHz Wi-Fi and the next generation of applications are driving a new wireless reality. We have AFC now, it’s time to start dreaming up new usage cases. Take a look at your requirements, evaluate your network, and see how you can benefit from standard-power Wi-Fi 6E. To get more information about the Cisco Wi-Fi 6E portfolio, visit the Cisco Wireless item page Share: Source
