The Federal Communications Commission took the next step in speeding up wireless home internet last week. The FCC approved testing for a new 6Ghz band, a faster version of the current Wireless Home Internet bands, according to Telecompetitor.
The 6 Ghz band would create more airwave space for companies wanting to sell wireless home internet. This means less competition among signals and faster, more reliable internet connectivity for users. The new 6Ghz band offers four times the total space available with the available 2.4 and 5Ghz bands. Wi-Fi officials hope that even after 6Ghz routers become more common, the sheer amount of space will keep signals fast and strong.
In 2020, the FCC voted to open up spectrum space in the 6GHz for unlicensed use, including standard-power operations and low-power indoor operations. The vote, according to The Verge, is the biggest spectrum addition since the advent of Wi-Fi in 1989. At that time, it was limited to indoor use only. Now in 2023, the FCC has approved plans to use this for full-power outdoor use to deliver wireless home internet.
Right now, the FCC has approved thirteen companies to test this internet, including Google, Nokia, Qualcomm, and more.
The important thing for cord cutters looking at using wireless home internet is this new 6Ghz standard offers greater range vs. current options used by many home internet services. This could bring wireless internet to move cord cutters who currently live outside of the ranges that current wireless options offer.
Currently, this FCC approval is for testing, but it is the first step to making this commercially available to Americans looking for new internet options.