Commissioner Pai suggests only 45 MHz of the 75 MHz total be dedicated to Wi-Fi. While it’s as yet uncertain exactly which rules this added spectrum would follow, he did state it would be contiguous to the existing 5.8 GHz spectrum, meaning 5850 to 5895 MHz. If the FCC decides to follow the same rules as the existing 5.8 GHz band, this would be very advantageous for fixed wireless deployments.
For existing Cambium Networks customers using either ePMP or PMP 450, this is very welcome news. These products were already designed to support frequencies higher for regulatory regions outside the United States. Therefore, they support these frequencies with optimal performance, and will only require a software update in order to take advantage of these frequencies, which are not currently being used by anyone.
As mentioned in the OP... the band "would be contiguous to the existing 5.8 GHz spectrum, meaning 5850 to 5895 MHz"... so it wouldn't actually be hitting 6ghz.
PMP450i's radio is capable of tuning between 4900 - 5925 MHz
PMP450's radio is capable of tuning between 5400 - 6000 MHz
e3k's radio is capable of tuning between 4910 – 5980 MHz
e2k's radio is capable of tuning between 5150 - 5970 MHz
e1k's radio is capable of tuning between 4910 – 5970 MHz
If the FCC allow use of this new band with little change to the rules or mechanisims to access it, it's highely likely that all of Cambium's existing 5GHz radios could be certified for use of this new band. If the FCC decides to make access to the band more complex, like it did with 3GHz and CBRS, by requiring a SAS, this might make it more difficult and expensive to utilize.
The article's author, Matt Mangriotis w/Cambium states:
"For existing Cambium Networks customers using either ePMP or PMP 450, this is very welcome news. These products were already designed to support higher frequencies for regulatory regions outside the United States. Therefore, they support these frequencies with optimal performance, and will only require a software update in order to take advantage of these frequencies, which are not currently being used by anyone."
I continue to be optimistic that the FCC will act on this in the near future. It's a very good thing for WISPs using Cambium equipment in the US.
Telemar - When you refer to Wi-Fi 6, this is the chipset capability, not necessarily the regulatory environment. For example, in the US, opening 6 GHz has been talked about, but there will be vary large hurdles to doing so... even opening this additional 45 MHz has caused a stir among amateur radio operators (HAM radio folks), but this may be a bit misguided or confused.
that would make the upper 5Ghz band usable for an 80Mhz ptp link and still not hose the rest for an AP or two! Hell, 40Mhz of clean spectrum means no more getting stepped on by other systems (5Ghz boosters! yuk!)
