Monday, February 19, 2024

Tarana Wireless gains FCC certification for unlicensed 6 GHz band

Tarana Wireless announced Federal Communication Commission’s certification for Gigabit 1 fixed wireless access (ngFWA) broadband platform to operate in the new unlicensed 6 GHz spectrum. Tarana is the first manufacturer to receive an Equipment Authorization Grant from the FCC in 6 GHz.

Tarana announced G1’s 6 GHz capability in October of 2023 and began shipping the new equipment for customer pilots. This grant now allows those internet service providers to operate commercially in the 6 GHz UNII-5 and UNII-7 bands with 4W EIRP power, managed by the automated frequency coordination (AFC) system.

More than 200 ISPs in 21 countries have adopted Tarana ngFWA technology, in CBRS and unlicensed 5 GHz, to better reach underserved communities with high-speed broadband. Known for its unprecedented ability to cancel radio interference, the G1 platform is an essential tool for operators planning to leverage unlicensed 6 GHz.

The company notes that its platform bring an important capability to operation in 6 GHz spectrum: flexible sub-carrier channel configuration. In contrast to systems based on Wi–Fi standards that require operation in 160 MHz wide channels, G1 can operate in multiple independent sub-channels, allowing the system to achieve full gigabit performance even when the presence of incumbent radio links and competing ISPs in the 6 GHz band limit the availability of clean, contiguous 160 MHz channels.

“We’re excited to see 6 GHz outdoor shared spectrum access becoming a reality,” said Ilkka Niva, Tarana’s Director of Regulatory Compliance. “We also recognize and appreciate the work that the FCC, WinnForum, and the Wi-Fi Alliance have done to pioneer this effort and enable prompt regulatory approvals. This new spectrum will help us — and our customers — in our joint mission to increase availability of reliable, affordable internet and close the digital divide.”