Networking

Businesses Benefit as Wi-Fi 6E Access Extends to the Great Outdoors

Federal approval of automated frequency coordination in the 6-gigahertz band extends the new standard outside, improving hybrid work.

Andy Viano

Andy Viano is a writer, editor and multimedia journalist with a background in newspapers, radio and professional sports. His work has appeared in The Times of Northwest Indiana, Flathead Beacon, Daily Inter Lake and other publications throughout the country. He is also the co-host and co-creator of the award-winning narrative podcast Project 7. Andy lives with his family in Chicago and can usually be found on a trail or a mountain somewhere when not at his keyboard.

Lily Lopate

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Lily is a Senior Editor at BizTech Magazine. She follows tech trends and the IT leaders who shape them — reporting on entrepreneurial business, security and thought leadership.

A robust networking infrastructure is integral to the success of any modern business. With Wi-Fi 6E in the mix, IT leaders can benefit from seamless connectivity and better performance management. And now, thanks to the Federal Communications Commission’s approval of automated frequency coordination in the 6-gigahertz band, that quality of wireless connectivity will extend to the great outdoors.

The February decision to greenlight the seven AFC applications was “critical to allowing standard power Wi-Fi to being operating in the 6GHz band,” the FCC wrote in a press release. This means that the vastly improved density load and reliable connectivity promised by Wi-Fi 6E can now be enjoyed outside without risk of interference with essential wireless communications, opening the door to a wave of new outdoor devices that will be used around the country. In fact, “Wi-Fi 6E’s market momentum continues to climb, with 576.2 million Wi-Fi 6E devices expected to ship in 2024,” according to the Wi-Fi Alliance.

LEARN MORE: CDW’s expertise is helping businesses bring Wi-Fi 6E outside.

Here's how this new wireless update optimizes networks and improves hybrid work.

A New Era of Wi-Fi Connectivity

Since the introduction of Wi-Fi 6E in 2021, users have benefited from a massive amount of additional bandwidth on the wireless spectrum through the 6GHz band. That new bandwidth can serve more people simultaneously and it also offers four times the throughput of Wi-Fi 5 (or 802.11ac), Luke Schiavone, CDW solution architect for networking, recently told BizTech.

“Switching to Wi-Fi 6E can provide more coverage and help the organization better future proof its networks because it’s a newer technology,” Schiavone says.

Now, that usage extends from low-power indoor use to standard outdoor operations — about 10 times more powerful transmission than LPI — thanks to coordination between incumbent users and seven vendor entities whose applications were approved.

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Incumbent users refers to those who were already operating on the 6GHz band, even before the introduction of Wi-Fi 6E, to conduct essential infrastructure operations and deploy radar systems, satellite services, weather monitoring, public safety communication, TV broadcasts, utility operations and more without fear of interference. Interference with those operations, of course, could have dire consequences, which is where the regulatory responsibilities of the FCC become part of the conversation. Any Wi-Fi 6E deployment must guarantee that it will not generate any interference with the incumbent users’ operations, and AFC was designed to do just that.

Bringing Wi-Fi 6E Beyond the Office

In February, seven providers had their AFC mechanisms approved: Broadcom, Comsearch, Federated Wireless, Qualcomm, Sony, the Wi-Fi Alliance and the Wireless Broadband Alliance.

Meanwhile, in the months leading up to the FCC approval, wireless vendors had already begun unveiling access points allowing for standard power operation in the 6GHz band, including Cisco, HPE Aruba, Extreme Networks, Juniper Networks and others.

Providing businesses with uninterrupted connectivity throughout their workspaces whether at home, in the office or on the road is a priority for IT leaders. This networking advancement also allows employees to stay productive as they work from anywhere, a trend that is predicted to continue: More than 36 million Americans are expected to work remotely by 2025, per a 2024 report from the U.S. Career Institute.

DIG DEEPER: See the future of networking with Wi-Fi 6E.

Bringing Wi-Fi 6E outdoors could also have major impacts on stadiums and outdoor expo operations, where a bevy of new tech tools could allow sports teams and retailers to use artificial intelligence to improve the fan experience and maximize revenue. Those AI tools and others have their own networking demands that could now be easier to meet with the power of 6E.

Before moving forward with new outdoor access points to take advantage of the 6GHz band, however, teams should understand the wireless infrastructure they currently have in place and how it’s being used. A network assessment and wireless site survey can help IT leaders determine their existing operations and identify the right locations to place new access points.

Once needs are identified, engaging an experienced and trusted partner to begin designing networks for optimal performance and reliability can get the project off on the right foot.

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