Unlicensed Spectrum
Unlicensed spectrum 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 realized can be maintained. Wi-Fi exemplifies innovation, delivering high-performance connectivity, carrying more data traffic than any other wireless technology, and enhancing the capacity of mobile networks. The growing worldwide demand for connectivity cannot be supported without Wi-Fi.
The future of unlicensed spectrum
Recognizing the sustained growth in Wi-Fi usage and that unlicensed spectrum allocation has not increased in nearly two decades, Wi-Fi Alliance commissioned research to determine future Wi-Fi needs. The result is the Wi-Fi Spectrum Needs Study. The study confirms that between 2020 and 2025 users worldwide are likely to experience a spectrum shortfall. The spectrum available for Wi-Fi use is inadequate to meet emerging and expected usage scenarios with the quality of service that Wi-Fi now delivers. To continue meeting expectations of billions of business, education, enterprise, and government users who depend on Wi-Fi every day, we must ensure new technologies expected to utilize unlicensed spectrum coexist with Wi-Fi, and that evolving spectrum policy considers the explosive growth in Wi-Fi use expected into the foreseeable future.
To sustain the economic and societal benefits derived from Wi-Fi consumers need global spectrum availability that considers the growth in Wi-Fi use, and fair coexistence among technologies in unlicensed spectrum. Wi-Fi Alliance is committed to working with all interested stakeholders to ensure Wi-Fi continues to meet users’ needs and expectations, 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
| Wi-Fi Alliance® applauds momentum in 6 GHz band |
| Wi-Fi Alliance® applauds RAY BAUM Act |
| Wi-Fi® in 6 GHz will have minimal impact on existing operations |
| Wi-Fi Alliance® and AT4 wireless sign agreement to test unlicensed LTE coexistence with Wi-Fi® |
- 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)