Metaverse Tech gets the US green light to use the fast 6GHz frequency

Low-power wearable technology, including virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) critical devices for the Metaverse, will be allowed into the 6 gigahertz (GHz) frequency band following a change in US communications regulator regulations.

In a press release on October 19, the Federal Communications Commission opened up the 6 GHz frequency band to “very low-power devices” without requiring a license, allowing a total of 850 MHz of spectrum.

The band boasts faster speeds, more bandwidth and lower latency – or “latency” in technical terms.

“These rules encourage cutting-edge applications including wearable technologies and augmented and virtual reality,” he said in a statement.

The 6 GHz band is “important for next-generation Wi-Fi operations,” according to the FCC, and the regulator is set to open for use by some devices in late 2020.

Commission adopts new rules to allow very low-power devices to work with other Wi-Fi-enabled devices in the 6 GHz band: https://t.co/HFaf2Hbh4M

— FCC (@FCC) October 19, 2023

The FCC said the decision will enrich the consumer experience and strengthen the nation's economy.

Meta, Apple and Google have all been working on AR or VR wearables — the latest one was Meta's Quest 3 in early October, and Apple's Vision Pro is expected to ship in early 2024.

In September, Meta released a second version of the AR glasses in partnership with Ray-Ban. According to a Bloomberg report at the time, Apple and Google are also working on AR-enabled glasses.

The three Big Tech players filed a request to the FCC in early 2020 to open up the frequency spectrum to ultra-low-power devices like their wearables.

Uses for the 6 GHz band highlighted by Bloomberg include connecting AR/VR devices to a smartphone or sharing navigation data with a vehicle.

Related: MultiversX eyes measurement scale as CEO sheds light on spatial computing

In a statement, the FCC said the new rules are based on other requirements to limit authorized devices to very low power levels and protect licensed services operating in the same band.

The 6 GHz band is also used by services that manage US electric grids, long-distance telephone services, and back-haul links between core and subnetworks.

The regulator proposed expanding low-power devices to use the remaining 6Ghz band and have the ability to use higher power levels if interference with licensed operations on the same band is geographically restricted.

Magazine: Web3 Player: Apple to fix gaming? SEC Hates Metaverse, Logan Paul Goes Steamy.