A future with a faster and better connection is coming with Apple and other Big Tech companies finally winning the FCC's approval for accessing the 6GHz band for its devices. Four years in the making, the collaboration between Apple, Google, and Meta proved to be a success, in hopes of asking the FCC for this access to the 6GHz spectrum, centering on AR/VR devices.
Currently, the frequency band available centers on 2.4GHz and 5GHz, with the latter being the most advanced and fastest there is, soon to see a more capable version.
Apple, Big Tech Wins 6GHz Approval from the FCC
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced its decision which gives Apple and other Big Tech companies the win towards utilizing the 6GHz frequency bands, opening it for companies to utilize.
"The Federal Communications Commission today opened the 6 GHz band to a new class of very low power devices that will operate alongside other Wi- Fi-enabled devices. These rules will spur an eco-system of cutting-edge applications, including wearable technologies and augmented and virtual reality, that will help businesses, enhance learning opportunities, advance healthcare opportunities, and bring new entertainment experiences."
- FCC.
The focus on 6GHz will expand more of the next-gen WiFi experience for various devices, with a significant emphasis on "new entertainment experiences," mainly focusing on AR and VR.
AR/VR Devices to Get 6GHz-From Apple?
The Big Tech part of this initial petition four years ago includes Apple, Google, and Meta, with all of these companies already having or planning to bring new AR/VR experiences in the future.
Apple is best known for its mixed-reality headset slated for 2024, with the $3,500 wearable known as the Vision Pro. On the other hand, Meta's Quest lineup features WiFi 6E, particularly for the Quest 3 XR wearable.
Google has partnered with Samsung to also bring a mixed-reality headset in the future.
Big Tech's Focus on the 6GHz Band
The renowned frequency band 6GHz has been the center of focus for many years now, stemming from as early as 2018 to 2019 when the world was looking to bring better wireless connections to devices. Previously, the FCC granted the unlicensed use of 6GHz to devices while it awaits the said approval, with companies like Apple, Meta (with the Quest 3) and more joining the change.
Currently, the available technology in the world featuring 6GHz connections are the so-called WiFi 6E and WiFi 6, and it is the fastest wireless connection there is available. However, there are already applications made to the FCC regarding WiFi 7, and it offers three times the speed of WiFi 6, with a maximum output of 9.6 Gbps, called Extremely High Throughput (EHT).
At present, we are still at the 6GHz which was recently approved by the FCC for very low-power devices, meant to operate on WiFi-enabled devices. Apple, Google, and Meta have made this happen because of their petition to the FCC, now granting its approval for the tech companies to tap into the 6GHz power for various wireless devices, with AR and VR devices benefitting widely.
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