Ofcom wants to make more 5GHz spectrum available for Wi-Fi routers, claiming the additional airwaves will allow for quicker, more reliable connections for the estimated six million homes and offices that duffer from sub-par wireless.
Most Wi-Fi routers use the 2.4GHz band, but these frequencies are becoming increasingly congested as more devices compete for the same spectrum. This can disrupt data intensive applications such as cloud and video streaming.
Modern routers also support the 5GHz band, which has much more spectrum. Ofcom wants to open up more frequencies within this band to increase the number of 80MHz channels available from four to six.
“People are placing greater demands on their broadband, so we need to ensure they aren’t let down by their wireless connection,” said Philip Marnick, group director of spectrum at Ofcom. “We also want to close the gap between advertised speeds and the wireless performance that people and businesses actually receive. So we’re exploring ways to open up more airwaves for Wi-Fi.”
Wireless routers use unlicensed spectrum, but Wi-Fi stakeholders, and other users of spectrum such as broadcasters and special events, are becoming increasingly concerned by the mobile industry’s drive to gain as much bandwidth – both licensed and unlicensed – as possible for cellular services.
Mobile operators such as Vodafone are using unlicensed Wi-Fi spectrum to boost their 4G networks using Licence-Assisted Access (LAA) technology, or LTE-Unlicensed (LTE-U). Vodafone tested LAA in the Netherlands and claims there was no interference to existing Wi-Fi networks.
German foreign minister warns Russia will face consequences for “absolutely intolerable” cyberattack on ruling party,…
Google is reportedly laying off at least 200 staff from its “Core” organisation, including key…
Investor appeasement? Apple unveils huge $110 billion share buyback program, as sales of iPhone decline…
Tesla retreats from pioneering gigacasting manufacturing process, amid cost cutting and challenges at EV giant
No skynet please. After the US, UK and France pledge human only control of nuclear…
Microsoft's AI investments continue in south east Asia, after investments in Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, as…