What's new

Why Did They Do This? Question on 6E Band filtering

  • SNBForums Code of Conduct

    SNBForums is a community for everyone, no matter what their level of experience.

    Please be tolerant and patient of others, especially newcomers. We are all here to share and learn!

    The rules are simple: Be patient, be nice, be helpful or be gone!

Fatawan

Regular Contributor
I follow this RF filter company who is deep into WiFi 6E. They had a press release out today about a new contract with a Tier-1 OEM that is going to produce mesh systems using these new filters.

Akoustis Announces Two New WiFi 6E XBAW Coexistence Filters with Enhanced 5 GHz Spectrum Use and Receives First Order from Tier-1 OEM :: Akoustis Technologies, Inc. (AKTS)

Here is the meat of the changes they made for this customer:

"...it is introducing two new WiFi 6E XBAW® filter modules that allow for the enhanced use of the 5 GHz WiFi spectrum.

The 5.6 GHz filter module covers the entire UNII 1-3 spectrum and enables an additional 80 MHz and 160 MHz channel in UNII 4, while the 6.6 GHz filter module covers the UNII 5-8 spectrum. Current WiFi 6E configurations allow for the use of six 80 MHz and three 160 MHz channels in the UNII 1-3 spectrum and fourteen 80 MHz and seven 160 MHz channels in the UNII 5-8 spectrum. The new XBAW® 5.6/6.6 GHz coexistence filter modules allow for the use of seven 80 MHz and three 160 MHz channels in the UNII 1-4 spectrum and twelve 80 MHz and six 160 MHz channels in the UNII 5-8 spectrum. Given that the 6 GHz portion of the WiFi 6E standard is just beginning to experience utilization, this new XBAW® coexistence solution allows for an environment of greater capacity in the 5 GHz bands."

Why would an OEM want to snag an extra 80MHz channel in the 5GHz range at the expense of the new spectrum in the 6GHz range?
 
My understanding: There are some markets where 6E standard will not be applicable. For example, the biggest consumer market China could not use 6Ghz range because it is used by the military. (From what I know currently all 6E chips sold there do not have 6Ghz enabled.)

Obviously if there is a need, there is a product.
 
For capacity planning in US high density setups. 5Ghz spectrum is scarce and crowded (with a lot of APs and clients); 6Ghz is abundant and empty (for now).
 

Similar threads

Sign Up For SNBForums Daily Digest

Get an update of what's new every day delivered to your mailbox. Sign up here!
Top