Broadcom Inc. and Cisco Systems Inc. have demonstrated that Open AFC has implemented the changes required to enable standard power Wi-Fi operations for internet service providers in Brazil. It is the expectation of the Dynamic Spectrum Alliance (DSA) that ANATEL will soon decide on the conditions of use of standard power devices in the 6 GHz band and ensure their unlicensed use in outdoor and indoor environments.
The companies participating in the Wi-Fi 6E Outdoor project in Brazil, Broadcom and Cisco, completed the approval and integration phase of their Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) technologies to ensure connectivity for Brazilians in outdoor areas. This was achieved through a partnership with internet providers associated with ABRINT, an entity that brings together more than 1,800 companies in the sector in all 27 Brazilian states. The DSA’s expectation is that the conditions for outdoor use of the 6 GHz band will be released by ANATEL.
With this phase completed, the DSA a global organisation that defends laws and regulations for more efficient use of spectrum expresses its optimism about the project and foresees that Brazilians will soon be able to have access to wireless broadband through standard power devices for indoor and outdoor use in the 6 GHz band.
“Brazil has been a global leader in authorising the use of the 6 GHz band for Wi-Fi, becoming a hub for development of new technologies, enabling innovation, new use cases and considerable benefits for Brazilians and the national economy”, says DSA president Martha Suarez. “With this development of the Open AFC solution, the Wi-Fi industry is showing its commitment to Brazil and our partners who are the small-scale providers (WISPs). The Open AFC system facilitates the operations of the WISPs and is ready to operate as soon as the regulations are established by ANATEL. The new use of the spectrum for Wi-Fi 6E Outdoor in Brazil will benefit Brazilians who need fixed broadband internet access, thereby expanding connectivity in the country”.
The Wi-Fi 6 Outdoor project in Brazil also involves training ISPs (internet service providers) on the AFC system for outdoor use of the 6 GHz band by access points. Broadcom and Cisco are the founders of the Open AFC of the Telecom Infra Project, which designed a fully functional AFC platform in open-source software for this project.
“This achievement regarding the adaptation of the Open AFC system is great news”, says President of ABRINT, Mauricelio Oliveira. “ABRINT is truly excited with the potential usage of the 6 GHz by Brazilian ISPs”.
“Cisco has been a partner in Brazil for over two decades and is committed to accelerating digitisation by enabling more spectrum in the 6 GHz band. Cisco has been a founding member of Open AFC, aiming to enable a cost-efficient AFC system,” says co-chair of Open AFC and principal architect at Cisco Wireless, Peiman Amini. “Open AFC collaboration with Brazil will accelerate the adaptation of broadband internet access and create more opportunities in the digital economy”.
“Broadcom was thrilled to collaborate with ABRINT and DSA to enable standard power Wi-Fi operations in Brazil,” says co-chair of Open AFC and director of product marketing for Broadcom’s wireless communications and connectivity division, Christopher Szymanski. “With the changes adopted by Open AFC, Brazilian ISPs are now capable of running the cloud-based service necessary for gigabit capable last kilometer connectivity on their own. As ANATEL takes the next step in its regulations to enable outdoor standard power operations, it can be confident that ISPs will be ready to deploy standard power Wi-Fi to help achieve Brazil’s internet connectivity goals”.
“At TIP’s Open AFC Software Group, we’re dedicated to designing, developing and testing AFC software for unlicensed services in the 6 GHz band. Collaborating with industry leaders and regulators, completing AFC technology’s approval phase marks a milestone for Brazil’s Wi-Fi 6 outdoor project” adds executive director at TIP, Kristian Toivo. “Efforts of companies like Broadcom, Cisco, and partnerships with ABRINT and Dynamic Spectrum Alliance highlight commitment to connectivity. Optimistic about its impact, we await regulatory decisions enabling standard power device deployment for indoor and outdoor 6 GHz usage”.
For more information, visit the DSA website.
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