Spectrum is a finite resource and it’s critical we use innovative policies, technologies and approaches to get the most out of our airwaves to bring the benefits of 5G to the most people. Today, the FCC took major steps forward in spectrum efficiency, putting our unused TV airwaves to good use and setting up auction rules to enable robust commercial sharing of the 3.5 GHz spectrum band with government users. These forward-leaning approaches promise to connect schools, farms, hospitals and homes in unconnected communities nationwide. We commend the Commission for its work on these issues.
Americans use Wi-Fi everywhere – when we need access to reliable, high quality data, Wi-Fi delivers. And Wi-Fi is critical to 5G success.
Licensed 5G will soon be available in large urban areas for mobile applications. But in a 5G world, Wi-Fi will play an increasingly central role in delivering speed and quality for the Internet of Things, for real-time video-rich connections, and as the most important broadband connection within homes, offices, hospitals, and schools — particularly in suburban and rural areas.
To position the U.S. for 5G success, the FCC has proposed that unlicensed services like Wi-Fi share 6 GHz spectrum while protecting existing users. Wi-Fi already has a long history of successful sharing, avoiding interference and maintaining exceptional performance. The FCC’s 6 GHz proposal will offer access to the wide bands of spectrum needed to deliver next generation Wi-Fi and a range of other technologies.
So we strongly support the FCC’s plan to open the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi sharing now, ensuring 5G-level connectivity is available on Main Street and in Manhattan, for rural families and next generation innovators.
Today, WifiForward released the following statement in response to Chairman Pai’s NPRM on TV White Spaces:
“Companies and communities around the country — and the world — are making the unused TV spectrum available on an unlicensed basis to deliver super-fast broadband connections and the U.S. can soon join them. WifiForward commends the Chairman for his move to make the most efficient use of our spectrum resources for public benefit.”
It is estimated that by the year 2050, the global population will be over nine billion. At our current pace, much of the world could be heading towards a catastrophic food shortage. The good news? Breakthroughs in Wi-Fi technology – including the Internet of Things (IoT) – have made it possible to produce large yields at astonishing rates. This practice is known as precision agriculture and researchers are currently exploring the possibility of someday implementing this method of farming on a global scale.
Read More “How Wi-Fi Is Helping To Revolutionize Agriculture”
CES is the premier global stage for new technology. Each year, industry-leading innovators flock to Las Vegas to showcase some of the most influential advancements in technology, transportation, artificial intelligence, robotics, and telecommunications. This year, both industry leaders and regulators introduced new Wi-Fi innovations and expressed the need for more spectrum for Wi-Fi use.
Read More “Wi-Fi and Unlicensed Spectrum Front and Center at CES 2020”
Today, Wi-Fi Alliance® introduced Wi-Fi 6E, a new term to identify Wi-Fi 6 products that can operate in the 6 GHz band. The following statement may be attributed to WifiForward:
Read More “WifiForward Statement on Wi-Fi 6E”
Today, all five FCC Commissioners voted unanimously to consider opening up spectrum in the 5.9 GHz band for Wi-Fi and innovative automotive safety technology. This spectrum had been previously completely unused the vast majority of the time, in the vast majority of the United States. The following statement may be attributed to WifiForward:
Read More “Unanimous Bipartisan Vote for More Spectrum for Wi-Fi”
It’s a divisive time on the Hill, but last Thursday, Democrats, Republicans and industry stakeholders alike agreed on one thing: the need for more unlicensed spectrum. Both the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Commerce Committee held hearings on our wireless future and there was significant discussion about the need for additional unlicensed spectrum in the 5.9 and 6 GHz bands.
Read More “FCC Commissioners and Industry Experts to Congress: It’s Time for Additional Unlicensed Spectrum”
WifiFoward, along with Citizens Against Government Waste and New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute, hosted “A Full Spectrum Future” on Wednesday to discuss smart spectrum policies. At the event, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai announced plans to take a “fresh look” at the 5.9 GHz band for unlicensed use. Doing so would provide more airwaves for Wi-Fi, allowing for faster speeds and clearing the way for Wi-Fi 6.
Read More “WifiForward Co-Hosts Chairman Pai, Other Expert Panelists as FCC Announces “Fresh Look” at 5.9 GHz”
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Wi-Fi — a technology that now carries the majority of all internet traffic and supports everything from medical telemetry and connected learning to secure financial transactions and machine communications. We wholeheartedly support the Commission’s common-sense move to take a fresh look at the 5.9 GHz band for Wi-Fi, which will turn a stagnant resource into fuel for our wireless economy. We look forward to working with the Commission on the details.
