The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has initiated a rule change that allows low-power wearable technology, including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) devices, access to the 6 GHz band without the need for a license. The FCC's decision, as announced in a press release on October 19. opens up 850 megahertz of spectrum in the 6 GHz band. This move is expected to provide opportunities for cutting-edge applications, including wearables and AR/VR devices that are crucial to virtual worlds.
The 6 GHz band is of significant importance for next-generation Wi-Fi operations, offering faster speeds, greater bandwidth, and reduced latency. The FCC had previously made a portion of the 6 GHz band available for specific device use in late 2020. According to the FCC, this rule change is aimed at enhancing the consumer experience and stimulating the nation's economy.
Major technology companies like Meta (formerly Facebook), Apple, and Google have been actively developing AR and VR wearables. Meta recently launched its Quest 3. Apple is expected to release its Vision Pro in early 2024. and both companies are also working on AR-enabled glasses. These tech giants had petitioned the FCC in early 2020 to open up this spectrum to facilitate the use of extremely low-power devices, particularly wearables.
The 6 GHz band holds the potential for various applications, including connecting AR/VR devices to smartphones and sharing navigation data with vehicles. The new rules carefully restrict the power levels of allowed devices, with certain conditions, to operate nationwide while ensuring the protection of licensed services operating in the same frequency bands. Notably, the 6 GHz band serves functions in managing the U.S. power grid, long-distance phone service, and backhaul, which are links between the core network and subnetworks, hence requiring FCC oversight.
Furthermore, the FCC has proposed expanding the use of low-power devices to cover the remaining portion of the 6 GHz band and allowing higher power levels if geo-fenced to prevent interference with licensed operations within the same band. These changes are expected to encourage innovation in the wearable technology and AR/VR sectors, enhancing user experiences and contributing to the growth of the economy.
