Flashback: FCC opens up experimental spectrum licenses for 6G

C-Net – by Marguerite Reardon, March 15, 2019

The Federal Communications Commission is paving the way for 6G and beyond.

On Friday, the agency unanimously voted to open up “terahertz wave” spectrum that could one day be used for 6G services. The spectrum, which falls in the 95 gigahertz (GHz) to 3 terahertz (THz) range, will be open for experimental use to let engineers dreaming of the next generation of wireless begin their work.

The spectrum, once thought of as useless, could offer super high speed internet service for data intensive applications, such as super high resolution imaging and sensing applications.

Through its rules, the FCC will give innovators a 10 year license to experiment with new products and services.

“Today, we take big steps towards making productive use of this spectrum,” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a statement. “This will give innovators strong incentives to develop new technologies using these airwaves while also protecting existing uses.”

The vote comes just as US wireless operators are starting to roll out 5G service. AT&T turned on its 5G network in a dozen cities at the end of last year. This year it plans to boost its coverage to 21 cities. So far, AT&T has launched only one device that can use its 5G network, a mobile hotspot. Verizon, which will be the first US carrier to sell the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, is launching its mobile 5G service in Chicago and Minneapolis next month. Meanwhile, T-Mobile said it’ll launch in 30 cities, while Sprint will launch in nine cities in 2019.

Wireless researchers, such as Ted Rappaport, a professor at NYU who’s been leading research in millimeter wave technology for 5G, say access to this spectrum will help the US stay ahead in wireless.

“Now, with the Spectrum Horizons initiative and this historic vote, the FCC has launched the race to 6G, helping to ensure the US will play a leading role in future generations of wireless,” Rappaport said in a statement.

Last month, many in the tech community scoffed at President Donald Trump’s mention of 6G in a tweet. Trump proclaimed he’d like to see “5G and even 6G technology” deployed in the US “as soon as possible.” But Rappaport said it’s never too early to think of the next generation of technology.

“President Trump mentioned 6G a few weeks ago — perhaps the first world leader to do so,” he said. “As an engineer and educator, I’m happy to know our country’s leaders are working to support American competitiveness in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).”

But this spectrum isn’t without its challenges. Like millimeter waves, which are used for 5G, this terahertz spectrum has propagation characteristics that require very short transmission distances and line-of-sight transmission. This means signals won’t be able to penetrate obstacles, like walls, and would be subject to interference from things like trees or changes in weather.

So far, actual applications that could use this super high frequency spectrum haven’t been demonstrated or really even imagined. But researchers are already thinking about the future. Later this month, scientists and engineers will gather in Oulu, Finland, for a 6G Wireless Summit.

Still, FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel said, “there is something undeniably cool about putting these stratospheric frequencies to use and converting their propagation challenges into opportunity.”

https://www.cnet.com/news/fcc-opens-up-experimental-spectrum-licenses-for-6g/

6 thoughts on “Flashback: FCC opens up experimental spectrum licenses for 6G

  1. 6G? I thought you couldn’t go any higher than 5G as 5G accomplishes everything on Earth?

    What’s 6G? Internet in outer space?

    I guess Trumpy needs something for his Space Defense Force.

  2. “This means signals won’t be able to penetrate obstacles, like walls, and would be subject to interference from things like trees or changes in weather.“

    First of all, I thought 5G was supposed to penetrate everywhere including through walls which is why they call it the Internet if things.

    In any case, if what they are saying is true, then of course they are in a hurry for 6G now since they can use that technology when they raid our homes and find out what is on the other side of our walls in seconds. Big Brother technology with higher steroids.

  3. If you do a search for anything to do with “technocrats”, “technocracy” or those words combined with “leaders of the future” you will see they’ve been working away at this for a very long time. The basic idea is to replace any kind of democratic process voting for politicians with a selection process where “experts” in their individual fields are “selected” for leadership positions. You’ve already seen how successive politicians have been acting out their roles on appear more & more inept or stupid or offensive to get the ire of the people. In turn most people will welcome the tyranny of a ruling class of unelected technocrats who will woo them with their “expert” knowledge. Bill Gates is the first major example of this & he has been prepared for a long time for this position but if we allow this to continue you will see others start to appear & I’m guessing the next one will be pushing the worldwide “benefits” of ever more powerful wireless technology. The primary concern is that this technology, just like vaccines, is a MAJOR WEAPON to establish & maintain TOTAL CONTROL of the masses. All the “benefits” they only talk about in their PR pale in comparison to their real purpose or in many cases are outright lies! Unfortunately most people are too stupid to realize that they are just being wooed by the PR around this stuff & never look into or even believe the very real & very harmful danger these weapons present.

    It should also be noted that these technocrats we will be presented with will most likely ALL be jews, Most people don’t think of Bill Gates as a jew but just take a look at him as he gets older & compare his features to some well known jews in the limelight (beware the cryptos!).

    This HAS to end with THEM losing! There is no alternative if you want yourself & your lineage to continue truly “living”! BUT the longer this goes on with all of them still breathing the more we near the line of no return! To all those reading this who are younger then me & can still physically deal with the biggest challenge ever presented to the world, PLEASE consider this very seriously because it really feels to me like it’s now or never!

  4. Part of resisting this is to STOP using Their Software !!!!!
    That’s why I swapped to Linuxmint.
    I’ve been on it all day and I’m really starting to love it.
    You can build multiple drives once you tailor the software on multiple boot external drives.
    Portable and effective….
    GET OFF WINDOWS 10……!!!!!!
    I’m slowly porting all my shit off of ole Billy Boys sheeit.
    It would be a major blow back on the back end.
    Then who are those new imported H!B! workers going to write their sloppy spyware operating system for….? Then….
    It’s your Fkng duty…… !!!!!
    On the back end.
    Linuxmint is pretty awesome for the desktop.
    Build mutlible boot disks you just stick in a USB port and move to what ever machine and boot to the external drive and be on with your business.
    Some of you may say…
    What the fck did he just say ???????
    It’s all out there ….!!!!
    Downloaded it and play with it.
    And Kick Microsoft in their technocracy BAWLS… !!!!!!
    Oh…. I almost forgot.

    Viable Practical Solutions
    In A World With F__Ked Up Answers.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=42&v=XUbZ6h2QPv8&feature=emb_logo

    Alan Holdsworth….
    I called him the baddest mf guitar player from Venus…
    He’s got some wicked riffs.
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_Holdsworth

Join the Conversation

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *


*