Unlicensed Spectrum
Unlicensed spectrum, where Wi-Fi® operates, is one of society’s most valuable resources. The Wi-Fi industry’s innovation, promotion, and good stewardship of unlicensed spectrum has delivered significant benefits to users and driven immense economic value worldwide. Wi-Fi Alliance® advocates for unlicensed spectrum, and for ensuring that the benefits Wi-Fi delivers can be maintained.
Countries and regulatory bodies—including Brazil, Chile, the European Union, Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, the U.K., and the U.S.—are delivering 6 GHz unlicensed spectrum to their citizens. Wi-Fi Alliance members are ensuring interoperability of Wi-Fi 6E devices through Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 program testing and certification. Wi-Fi Alliance continues to work with regulatory agencies worldwide to open the 6 GHz spectrum for Wi-Fi use.
Unlicensed spectrum availability
While there has been sustained growth in Wi-Fi usage, unlicensed spectrum allocation has not increased at pace with Wi-Fi growth until now. Wi-Fi Alliance commissioned research to determine future Wi-Fi needs. The resulting Wi-Fi Spectrum Needs Study confirms that between 2020 and 2025, users worldwide are likely to experience a spectrum shortfall, without global access to additional spectrum.
To sustain the economic and societal benefits derived from Wi-Fi, consumers need global spectrum availability that considers growth in Wi-Fi use and fair coexistence among technologies operating in unlicensed spectrum.
Wi-Fi operation in 6 GHz addresses Wi-Fi spectrum shortage by providing contiguous spectrum blocks to accommodate up to 14 additional 80 MHz channels or seven additional 160 MHz channels. These wider channels are needed for high-bandwidth applications that require faster data throughput such as high-definition video streaming, virtual reality, unified communications, cloud computing, and telepresence. Wi-Fi 6E designates devices capable of 6 GHz operation. Wi-Fi 6E devices leverage wider channels and additional capacity to deliver greater network performance and support more Wi-Fi users at once, even in very dense and congested environments.
Wi-Fi Alliance is committed to working with all interested stakeholders to ensure Wi-Fi continues to meet users’ needs, now and in the future.
Join us in our efforts to ensure the continued success of Wi-Fi.
Upcoming events and activities
Wi-Fi and LTE-U Coexistence Test Workshop
November 4th
Palo Alto, CA
The first in a series, this one-day workshop on Wi-Fi and LTE-U coexistence will provide attendees with an opportunity to advance dialogue and understanding about fair spectrum sharing, the potential effects of LTE-U, and the type of activities in which Wi-Fi Alliance is engaging to promote fair sharing. Attendees will learn about the testing activities underway within Wi-Fi Alliance and the Wi-Fi industry. Attendees will also have an opportunity to hear from proponents of LTE-U.
- See more at: https://www.wi-fi.org/node/25323/revisions/31216/view#sthash.yRKB4HmP.dpuf
Upcoming events and activities
Wi-Fi and LTE-U Coexistence Test Workshop
November 4th
Palo Alto, CA
The first in a series, this one-day workshop on Wi-Fi and LTE-U coexistence will provide attendees with an opportunity to advance dialogue and understanding about fair spectrum sharing, the potential effects of LTE-U, and the type of activities in which Wi-Fi Alliance is engaging to promote fair sharing. Attendees will learn about the testing activities underway within Wi-Fi Alliance and the Wi-Fi industry. Attendees will also have an opportunity to hear from proponents of LTE-U.
- See more at: https://www.wi-fi.org/node/25323/revisions/31216/view#sthash.zAQm8SA8.dpuf
Upcoming events and activities
Wi-Fi and LTE-U Coexistence Test Workshop
November 4th
Palo Alto, CA
The first in a series, this one-day workshop on Wi-Fi and LTE-U coexistence will provide attendees with an opportunity to advance dialogue and understanding about fair spectrum sharing, the potential effects of LTE-U, and the type of activities in which Wi-Fi Alliance is engaging to promote fair sharing. Attendees will learn about the testing activities underway within Wi-Fi Alliance and the Wi-Fi industry. Attendees will also have an opportunity to hear from proponents of LTE-U.
- See more at: https://www.wi-fi.org/node/25323/revisions/31216/view#sthash.zAQm8SA8.dpuf
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Wi-Fi 6E: Expanding Wi-Fi into 6 GHz spectrum -
A day without Wi-Fi -
FCC remarks from Ajit Pai, Chairman -
What Wi-Fi trends are expected in 2020? -
Economic value of Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi Alliance® Wi-Fi® predictions for 2021 |
Wi-Fi Alliance® delivers Wi-Fi 6E certification program |
Wi-Fi® is critical to national resilience in the face of COVID-19 |
Wi-Fi 6E certified products |
- Wi-Fi 6E: Wi-Fi® in the 6 GHz band (2021)
- COVID-19 and the Economic Value of Wi-Fi® (2020)
- Wi-Fi 6E Highlights
- The Economic Value of Wi-Fi: A Global View (2018 and 2023)
- Value of Wi-Fi® Highlights
- Value of Wi-Fi® Graphics
- Wi-Fi Spectrum Needs Study
- Wi-Fi LTE-U Coexistence Test Workshop Presentations (September 2016)
- Pilot Study Report of Multiple Wi-Fi Vendors' Performance
- Wi-Fi LTE-U Coexistence Test Workshop Presentations (August 2016)
- Wi-Fi LTE-U Coexistence Test Workshop Presentations (June 2016)
- Wi-Fi LTE-U Coexistence Test Workshop Presentations (April 2016)
- Wi-Fi LTE-U Coexistence Test Workshop Presentations (February 2016)
- Wi-Fi Alliance® facilitates Wi-Fi® and LTE Unlicensed coexistence
- Wi-Fi LTE-U Coexistence Test Workshop Presentations (November 2015)
- Coexistence Guidelines for LTE in Unlicensed Spectrum Studies
- LTE unlicensed and Wi-Fi: Moving beyond coexistence (2015)
6GHz Wi-Fi - The Silver Bullet for Addressing the 1000x Data Challenge Using Unlicensed Spectrum Arista Networks |
A Guide to Wi-Fi 6E – Wi-Fi 6 in the 6 GHz Band Litepoint |