Federated Wireless, a shared spectrum and private wireless solutions provider, last week applauded the FCC public notice initiating the certification process for Automatic Frequency Coordination (AFC) systems in the 6 GHz band, including Federated Wireless’ existing commercial-grade solution. The certification procedure represents the culmination of a five-year technical process led by Federated Wireless and its industry partners, together with the FCC, to enable shared use of the 6 GHz band.
“Federated Wireless has been on this journey with the FCC and our partners from day one. Today’s announcement represents the end of a long journey to build and commercialize our shared spectrum product and open the 6 GHz band to the latest generation of unlicensed devices that are vital for both enterprise and consumer broadband connectivity,” said Federated Wireless CEO Iyad Tarazi.
To date, Federated Wireless has signed commercial agreements with enterprise WLAN access point manufacturers collectively responsible for 50 percent of the worldwide enterprise outdoor access point market. These commercial agreements will accelerate standard power and outdoor access point operations in the 6 GHz band.
Leveraging its expertise in spectrum sharing in the CBRS band, Federated Wireless began working in 2018 closely with partners and the unlicensed wireless ecosystem to develop an AFC system to enable WiFi 6 and 5G NR-U deployments in the 6 GHz band.
In 2019, Federated Wireless publicly demonstrated what it said was the world’s first AFC prototype, proving the feasibility of adapting its cloud-based spectrum sharing technology and platform to meet the FCC’s (then proposed) requirements for the 6 GHz band. Federated Wireless refined its AFC system with input from the unlicensed equipment vendor and operator community, incumbent licensees, and relevant standards organizations.
In August 2022, together with partners CITC and HPE Aruba, Federated Wireless demonstrated live AFC system management of 6 GHz spectrum and standard power WiFi devices. In November 2022, the FCC conditionally approved Federated Wireless to be an authorized AFC system operator for the United States, Inside Towers reported.
Reader Interactions