Australian Communication and Media Authority (ACMA) is considering making parts of the 6 GHz band available for use by radio local area network (RLAN) equipment and updating their 5 GHz band.

Internationally, many countries have been looking at making the 6 GHz band (5925–7125 MHz) available for use by radio local area network (RLAN) equipment. Some countries, including the US and UK, have already made changes to allow this equipment in the band. The main reason behind these changes is to enable use of devices using the next generation of wi-fi, known as ‘Wi-Fi 6e’.

Given this momentum, the important role RLANs play in the broader broadband connectivity ecosystem, and the level of interest indicated domestically through the ACMA’s latest five-year spectrum outlook (FYSO) process, ACMA is investigating the case for similar actions in Australia in the 6 GHz band.

Parts of the 6 GHz band will also be considered for International Mobile Telecommunications (IMT, currently most readily associated with 5G) services in Region 1 as defined by the ITU (comprising Africa, Europe and the Russian Federation) by the next WRC in 2023 (WRC-23).

In the 5 GHz band, it was agreed at WRC-19 to update international regulatory arrangements in the 5150–5250 MHz range and are considering whether to mirror some or all those updates in Australian arrangements.