The Australian Mobile Telecommunication Association (AMTA) released its Policy Position Paper’ on spectrum for 5G services and it highlighted the need for spectrum to address the increasing reliance on mobile bands to support connectivity.
Australia should set aside the full 1200MHz of available 6GHz spectrum available for WiFi applications under the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) Low Interference Potential Devices (LIPD) class license.
The Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) said this will ensure enough spectrum is made available to allow the next-gen of WiFi gigabit technologies, WiFi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 to thrive alongside 5G and fibre in its letter to the minister of communications.
Martha Suarez, president of the DSA said: “Many people have already experienced Wi-Fi congestion in densely populated areas or even in the connected family home.
“With the growth in traffic projected by AMTA and without more Wi-Fi spectrum, even the recently announced 500 MHz of spectrum will not be enough. In a few short years, Australians will once again be subject to Wi-Fi congestion.”
The ACMA has already assigned 225MHz of spectrum for IMT usage in and around 3.6GHz and is currently investigating more both in this range and in the 10GHz band.
The increasing demand will also increase traffic on WiFi networks that are the final link to user devices, the DSA warns.
“There is an opportunity now to dedicate the full 1200 MHz of 6 GHz spectrum to Wi-Fi and prepare for future demands,” Suarez adds.
“Almost every device that connects to a cellular network relies on Wi-Fi in some way to connect devices in the home or workplace.
“Allocating the 1200 MHz of spectrum is an opportunity Australia cannot afford to miss.”
