Austin, Texas, July 14, 2016 – Today, the United States Federal Communication Commission adopted the Spectrum Frontiers proposal to identify and open substantial amounts of high-band spectrum (known as millimeter bands) for flexible use wireless broadband. The new rules would open nearly 11 GHz of spectrum, 7 GHz of which would be dedicated to unlicensed usage. Wi-Fi Alliance® welcomes this action as a necessary step to support the rapidly growing need for high-performance connectivity, driven by the billions of Wi-Fi® devices deploying every year and users’ seemingly limitless demand for data. By doubling the amount of unlicensed high-band spectrum available, the Commission will accelerate Wi-Fi’s delivery of a projected $547 billion in economic value by 2017.
Wi-Fi has enabled significant advancements, helping to connect billions of people around the world and becoming a necessary part of everyday life as the world’s default form of connectivity to the Internet. Nearly 2.5 billion Wi-Fi devices were sold in 2015 alone, with cumulative shipments expected to reach more than 28 billion in 2020. Today, Wi-Fi hotspots number nearly 5 million worldwide and more than 450 million households around the world currently use a Wi-Fi network. Given the expected number of connected devices, it is more important than ever to establish sound spectrum policy.
With WiGig devices entering the market now, the Spectrum Frontiers action is appropriate and timely. It will hasten delivery of next-generation services such as 5G and spread the ubiquity and economic benefits of Wi-Fi products to the millimeter wave bands.
About Wi-Fi Alliance®
www.wi-fi.org
Wi-Fi Alliance® is a global non-profit industry association – our members are the worldwide network of companies that brings you Wi-Fi®. The members of our collaboration forum come from across the Wi-Fi ecosystem and share a common vision of connecting everyone and everything, everywhere. Since 2000, the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ seal of approval designates products with proven interoperability, industry-standard security protections, and the latest technology. Wi-Fi Alliance has certified more than 30,000 products, delivering the best user experience and encouraging the expanded use of Wi-Fi products and services in new and established markets. Today, billions of Wi-Fi products carry a significant portion of the world’s data traffic in an ever-expanding variety of applications.
Media contacts:
Elliott Suthers
Highwire PR for Wi-Fi Alliance
wi-fi@highwirepr.com
+1-415-963-4174 ext. 6