What's Happening?
The adoption of 6 GHz Wi-Fi, crucial for the development of Wi-Fi 8, is progressing unevenly across the globe. While 97 countries have authorized some use of the 6 GHz band, only a subset allows full 1200 MHz access, which is essential for maximizing
Wi-Fi 8's capabilities. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened the entire 6 GHz band for unlicensed Wi-Fi use in 2020, setting a precedent for other nations. However, global harmonization remains a challenge, with varying policies leading to increased manufacturing costs and potential performance limitations for enterprises.
Why It's Important?
The 6 GHz band is pivotal for the next generation of Wi-Fi technology, offering enhanced reliability, intelligent spectrum management, and improved energy efficiency. Disparities in global adoption could hinder the competitiveness of Wi-Fi 8 against other technologies like 5G. The lack of uniformity in spectrum policy forces vendors to produce multiple hardware variants, increasing costs that are ultimately passed on to consumers. This situation could lead to enterprises purchasing equipment that does not fully utilize the 6 GHz band, limiting the potential benefits of Wi-Fi 8.
What's Next?
As the industry moves towards the official ratification of IEEE 802.11bn, expected around 2028, efforts to achieve global harmonization of the 6 GHz band will be crucial. Chipset vendors are already preparing for the transition by developing pre-standard silicon, with consumer devices expected to incorporate Wi-Fi 8 by the end of the decade. Policymakers and industry stakeholders will need to collaborate to address the current fragmentation and ensure that the full potential of Wi-Fi 8 can be realized. This will involve aligning spectrum policies and certification timelines across different regions.
