ACMA WiFi 6Ghz Australian Christmas Present 2024

 DEC 2024

The ACMA have released their outcomes paper on the future use of the upper 6 Ghz Band

 Future use of the upper 6 GHz band Outcomes paper

In response to growing interest in utilizing the upper 6 GHz band (6425–7125 MHz) for WiFi and 5G services, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) released an options paper in June 2024 to gather feedback. The majority of 29 responses supported the introduction of these services, with evidence of their potential benefits to Australia. After reviewing the responses, ACMA concluded that while both WiFi and 5G services could bring economic and productivity benefits, there is no need for the entire band to be allocated for either service in most cases.  ACMA has decided to adopt a "hybrid" frequency split approach: the 6425–6585 MHz range will be used for WIFI under the Radiocommunications Low Interference Potential Devices (LIPD) class license, while the 6585–7100 MHz range will be reserved for 5G in selected metro and regional areas, contingent upon the development of suitable equipment markets. The remaining 6585–7100 MHz spectrum outside these areas may be opened up for localized 5G services through a coordinated licensing process. This approach will be refined based on international regulatory developments, particularly in Europe and India.  The decision on standard power has been deferred.

It is disappointing to see that the entire 6Ghz spectrum was not dedicated to WiFi as it has been in the USA it is pleasing to see that they did not just allocate based on the UNII 5,6,7,8 Boundaries

Currently in Australia 6Ghz WiFi is only permitted on the UNII 5 Band.  This will be extended to UNII6 and a bit of UNII7.   The main benefit of this arrangement is giving 2 x 320 Mhz Wide channels  and 4 x160Mhz wide channels when very hight data rates are required for VR and Imaging.

It will also give a total of 32 x 20 Mhz wide channels in 5Ghz  which will be great for high density education and stadium WiFi.   5 Ghz WiFi 22 x 20Mhz wide channels are becoming more congested to the point in high density were you cannot get any more data in the air.   (See WiFi Digital Exams on 5Ghz)

The downside of this approach will be that we will be the first country to break the spectrum up like this on non UNII boundaries and I am sure this will create vendor software issues and compatibility issues between vendors.  For example it has taken along time to get channel 144 5Ghz Support.  We are still waiting for Cisco to support channel 144 in Australia on catalyst access points but is supported on newer Meraki and Mist APs.   We did not need more market and vendor confusion.   I can not see vendor support for these frequency upgrades in the short term.

It is a step forward which is great but I would have liked to see the entire spectrum opened up to WiFi like the USA.  WiFi needs to be frictionless. 

From a WiFi engineers point of view there will be a few more buttons to remember to click in Ekahau and Hamina  when designing and surveying...