ARLA/CLUSTER: Ofcom realiza consulta para incrementação das rede Wi-Fi na banda de 5 GHz devido ao congestionamento em 2,4 GHz

[João Costa > CT1FBF]

Consultation on increasing spectrum for Wi-Fi in the 5 GHz band

Ofcom has confirmed plans to increase the amount of spectrum available
for Wi-Fi in the 5 GHz band. In the future, this could enable better
wireless broadband for consumers.

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.

Many Wi-Fi routers in the UK currently use a part of the spectrum
called the 2.4 GHz band, which is becoming increasingly congested and
can impair broadband performance. Many people have newer broadband
routers, which use not only the 2.4 GHz band, but also the 5 GHz band
– which has much more spectrum and is less congested.

Ofcom has decided to open up an additional ‘sub-band’ within the 5.8
GHz section of the 5 GHz band. In deciding to do so, we have taken
into account the impact on other existing users, such as satellite
services.

The extra sub-band will result in 125 MHz more spectrum. This will
allow for two more 80MHz channels to accommodate data-hungry
applications. These extra channels are already being used in other
countries, including the US.

In order to implement the decision, Ofcom is now consulting with UK
stakeholders on proposed regulations which will allow Wi-Fi use in
this band. The making of the new regulations will also be contingent
on any comments the European Commission may have on the technical
parameters we propose to apply to the use of the band.

The closing date for responses to this consultation document is 11th
April 2017..