Wi-Fi networking uses two frequencies: 2.4 GHz, and 5 GHz. The 5 GHz frequency goes back to the 802.11a specification, back in 1999, so it has been around for over a decade. The 5 GHz frequency was also incorporated into the 802.11n spec as well as the current 802.11ac standards.
In far too many cases, the 2.4 GHz frequency gets crowded. Let’s look at my home environment using the Killer Network Manager which is part of the Killer NIC Software Suite.
The results displayed to the upper left are fairly typical, with routers that span three channels, and overlap each other. Recall that due to these overlaps, there are really only three distinct channels: 1, 6 and 11. It’s no wonder at times that the 2.4 GHz becomes unusable, with compromised speeds. As an aside, my router is set to “Auto” to choose the channel, but it would be better to have it manually tuned to channel 11.
As a result of the crowding in my area on the 2.4 GHz channels, I preferentially send more of my wireless network traffic through one of the the 5 GHz frequencies. To the lower left is what the 5 GHz spectrum looks like in my area.
There is only a single 5 GHz SSID, which happens to be mine, and scrolling across reveals nothing else. Hence, there is no interference, and it is a wide open highway without the interference that plagues 2.4 GHz from the other competing networks, as well as Bluetooth, microwaves, wireless mice and keyboards and older 2.4 GHz cordless phones.
Unlike other portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, both Wi-Fi frequencies have been set aside for unlicensed use by consumers and businesses, although power limits are regulated. Many other portions of the radio frequency are regulated, and controlled by the FCC for radio, television, military, astronomy and wireless communications among other purposes.
The quest for faster wireless data connections, so-called 4G and 5G LTE smartphones, has come at the price that these radio frequencies are getting crowded, and running out of available space. With technologies such as channel bonding that use several frequencies to simultaneously transmit a single data stream, while the throughput has increased, the frequency crowding and shortage has only gotten worse.
In a coming standard developed by Qualcomm, cell carriers plan to use the 5 GHz frequency as a second frequency for downloads to increase speeds. Most of us connect our smartphone to our router via Wi-Fi to increase the download speeds, avoid the mobile data caps, and to enhance coverage while inside our homes.
However, this plan is going to use 5 GHz Unlicensed LTE (LTE-U), which will connect the smartphones to carrier owned access points via the 5 GHz frequency. T-Mobile is particularly interested in this Unlicensed LTE technology, and plans to use it in malls, and sporting events for starters. It is unclear if it will be used on main cell towers. Verizon also plans to deploy LTE-U, and the remaining carriers cannot be far behind.
There is a real concern that all of this use of the 5 GHz frequency will create interference. In fact, Google filed with the FCC their concern of the congestion that will result from the combining of licensed and unlicensed frequencies. Don’t get me wrong- we all benefit from a more stable and speedy cellular data connection.
However, facing a shortage of new frequencies for cellular use, and at higher prices at the FCC auctions, we should not have the narrow portion of frequency that the public was given for Wi-Fi get crowded out by “The Big Four” of mobile phone carriers.
While it is unclear how this will move forward, it looks unlikely that we will continue to have the 5 GHz frequency all to ourselves. Let’s hope the tradeoff is worth it, and we don’t end up with the same interference issues that has plagued the 2.4 GHz signal.
Feel free to share your experiences with 5 GHz Wi-Fi, and your opinions on its use by mobile phone carriers.
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