ARLA/CLUSTER: Reino Unido propõe usar segmento de amador dos 5 GHz para Wi-Fi

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Ofcom propose using Ham Radio band for Wi-Fi

Ofcom is consulting on plans to put Wi-Fi across Amateur and Amateur
Satellite spectrum in the 5 GHz band

The Ofcom consultation document implies that amateur satellites in 5
GHz only operate in very Low Earth Orbits. This is false, radio
amateurs have sent 5 GHz payloads into far higher orbits. Examples are
the Venus orbiter Unitec-1 which operated on 5.840 MHz and AO-40 which
is in a 58,836 km High Earth Orbit (HEO). The 5 GHz band will also be
used by the Geosynchronous Phase-4B payload and the HEO Phase-3E
satellite both of which are currently under construction.
http://www.southgatearc.org/news/may2010/
unitec1_signal_received.htm

Ofcom's proposal to use 5725-5850 MHz for Wi-Fi would adversely affect
reception of the network of amateur weak-signal propagation beacons,
see
http://www.microwavers.org/maps/6cms.htm

The Ofcom press release says:

As broadband delivered to the home gets faster, people increasingly
expect their Wi-Fi to provide several services at once – such as video
streaming, video calls, gaming and remote working. This demand puts
pressure on the spectrum which carries Wi-Fi signals.

Most Wi-Fi routers in the UK currently use a part of the spectrum
called the 2.4 GHz band, but this is becoming increasingly congested
and can impair broadband delivery of high data rate applications such
as streaming video or live TV.

Many people now have newer broadband routers, which use not only the
2.4 GHz band, but also the 5 GHz band – which offers much more
spectrum and can accommodate wide channels suitable for high data rate
uses.

To make connections faster, Ofcom is proposing to open up an
additional ‘sub-band’ within the 5 GHz frequency range for Wi-Fi –
while ensuring protection for other users, such as satellite services.

The extra sub-band would increase the number of 80 MHz channels
available for Wi-Fi from four to six, to accommodate data-hungry
applications. These extra channels – which are already being used in
the United States – could be opened up in around two to three years.

The consultation closes on July 22, 2016.

Ofcom 5 GHz consultation
http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/consultations/5-GHz-Wi-Fi/

The UK Microwave Group loans equipment to get amateurs started on 5.7 GHz
http://www.microwavers.org/6cm-loan-system.htm