On the same day it voted to move forward with restoring net neutrality laws, the FCC unanimously approvedplans by several tech companies to use the 6GHz range for wireless devices.

The new regulations were suggested by FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel, and they would allow very low power (VLP) operations—which means their signals won't be able to travel very far—in about 850 MHz of the spectrum. Under the regulations, devices may "use higher power levels" if they are geofenced to avoid interfering with genuine permitted 6GHz usage. Additionally, the FCC will be accepting views on additional ways it can increase the usage of the 6GHz spectrum by technological devices.

According to a September Bloomberg article, among the devices that could become available because of the FCC's approval are mobile virtual reality and augmented reality devices, in-car connectivity, and more.

The FCC first allowed Wi-Fi routers and client devices (such as smartphones or laptops) to use 1,200MHz of the 6GHz spectrum without a license, allowing residential networks far greater wireless overhead than the old Wi-Fi standards already had. The spectrum is now more widely available for usage thanks to this recent permission.

Microsoft, Google, Apple, and Meta are among the tech firms that asked the FCC to provide them access to the 6GHz band in 2019. The choice might help some of the trickier initiatives that businesses have been working on, including AR glasses. Apple, Google, and Meta—which has developed smart glasses but not the reality-augmenting variety—have all experienced issues in that area. The companies (and anyone else who wants to) now have a little more connectivity freedom than they did in the past thanks to the opening of additional spectrum.
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Kevin Martin, vice president of policy for North America at Meta, applauded the choice in a statement. Martin stated, “We commend the FCC’s decision allowing companies like ours to use new wireless technologies to build the next wave of computing. This is a shining example of a government regulator working with industry early to build for the future.”

The iPhone 14's standout feature when it was released by Apple last fall was a satellite-based communication service for emergency calls outside the range of cellular networks. Recently, Qualcomm announced their plans to add a comparable feature to several advanced Android phones.

In some regions, starting in the second half of this year, premium Android handsets running Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Mobile Platform will be able to connect to a satellite-based two-way messaging system.
Snapdragon Satellite from Qualcomm is the Android community's response to Apple's Emergency SOS feature. iPhone 14 users who go outside the usual wireless network range can send their whereabouts if they get lost using a network of satellites and ground relay stations Apple helps fund.

Users are instructed to point their phones at a satellite so that it can transfer information to a ground station and the emergency services. However, freshly purchased iPhones come with a complimentary two-year subscription to Emergency SOS. Whether consumers will have to pay for Snapdragon Satellite is unclear. Last summer, T-Mobile unveiled a comparable Starlink function that supported SMS, MMS, and compatible messaging apps.   
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Currently available models with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 include the Xiaomi 13 series, Moto X40, and Vivo X90 Pro+, while more are on the way from Asus, OnePlus, and Sony. Qualcomm hasn't revealed precisely which phones would first receive Snapdragon Satellite.

Your phone probably has a built-in hotspot feature that enables you to share your internet connection with other devices, regardless of whether you use an iPhone or an Android smartphone.

It's a nice function, but if you use it frequently, a separate mobile hotspot router will probably serve you better.

During my working career, I traveled over 4 million miles and over half of that travel was on trips where I relied on a mobile hotspot router for my Internet connection.

In my first years using a mobile hotspot router, I used hardware from a variety of manufacturers. But, within a couple of years, I had focused on Netgear and have used their routers ever since.

The newest device from Netgear is the Nighthawk M6 Pro and it’s the top hotspot router on the market today. It is important to note that the M6 Pro is only available on the AT&T network in the US. The M6 model is still a superb router and can come unlocked to be used with any telecom vendor.

At this point, you must be asking why? Why have this expensive peripheral when its functionality is bundled already into my smartphone?

It's because mobile hotspot routers are more adaptable and filled with cool capabilities.

First, I use my phone for a variety of purposes throughout the day and don't want to tie it up with always providing the Internet to gadgets. It is inconvenient and severely drains the battery. Two years ago, my wife and I decided to ‘cut the cord’ and get rid of our landline. Now, my smartphone is our primary contact number and I want it always available. The only thing my mobile hot spot router has to do is connect the Internet to all of my accompanying devices.

The Nighthawk M6 and M6 Pro can connect up to 32 devices to the Internet by using the built-in battery to fill up to 2,000 square feet of space with high-speed Wi-Fi for up to 13 hours using the available 5G & 4G LTE networks. If you need more power, connect it to a power bank or other USB charger that’s available.

If your smartphone doesn't have an unlimited data plan, controlling your internet consumption on your phone is crucial. Setting up a separate plan just for data with a cellular carrier for your mobile hotspot router will eliminate those overage costs on your phone’s plan. And in those situations where your device can take advantage of an Ethernet connection, this mobile hotspot router can provide that Ethernet port.

The Nighthawk M6 and M6 Pro's ability to capture cellular signals is also impressive. These mobile routers perform better and had a stronger signal than my iPhone 14 Pro, which makes them a wonderful option for signal-poor locations. In those situations where there appears to be a poor cellular signal, you can connect an external antenna to the TS-9 ports of the router.

Another feature of the M6 and M6 Pro is its ability to provide Internet service even at home. The mobile router can connect directly to your network and allow you to switch over to cellular should your main Internet connection go down.
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Finally, when you need Internet connections at a campsite, remote construction site or even an emergency scene, use your mobile hotspot router to create a bubble of Wi-Fi service wherever you are. The router will also create a QR code on its display so any smartphone can easily connect to the service with its camera.
Once you’ve used one, you’ll find it really hard to go back to using your smartphone’s hotspot feature.

The White House is taking a victory lap over its efforts to close the digital divide, announcing recently that 10 million households have signed up for the Affordable Connectivity Program, which was funded to the tune of $14.2 billion under the bipartisan infrastructure bill. The program, designed for low-income Americans, offers eligible households up to $30 off their monthly internet service, or up to $75 off for those living on tribal lands. 

The Affordable Connectivity Program grew out of the pandemic-related funding provided under the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, which offered low-income households up to $50 off their monthly bills. That program came together quickly and was marked early on by technical troubles that made it nearly impossible for some Americans who had been approved for the program to sign up for service with their internet providers.

Some providers were also found to be stretching the rules laid out by the FCC, which required people enrolled in the program to actively opt in to full-price internet plans whenever the funding for the discounts ran out. That approach was designed to prevent low-income Americans from getting hit with surprise bills they couldn't afford. But reporters found at least two providers were requiring people to opt in to higher priced plans as a condition of enrollment.

The false starts raised questions about whether the EBB program was really making a dent in the digital divide. One study last summer estimated that 36 million households might be eligible for the program. At the time, just under 4 million households had enrolled. 

The author of that report, John Horrigan, a senior fellow at the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, said the progress that's been made since then is "encouraging." "In a fairly short time frame, the program that didn't exist has ramped up to a good level," he said.

But even with 10 million households enrolled, tens of millions of eligible households may still be left behind. According to Horrigan's calculations, in 2021, there were 38 million households at or below 200% of the poverty level in the U.S., which would make them eligible for the program. That, he said, means "more elbow grease" needs to be applied in terms of outreach.
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While the White House’s announcement was a chance to celebrate the success of the program, it also marked the beginning of a dedicated push to get more Americans enrolled. The White House said the FCC and its local partners will be holding 10 enrollment events over the next month to both raise awareness for the program and train navigators who can help people enroll.

A ruling at the end of December by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has backed up an April 2020 decision by the FCC to open up 1,200MHz of spectrum in the 6GHz band for unlicensed use. Unlicensed means anyone can use it, if they do so responsibly, covering uses like your future Wi-Fi 6E home network.

While Wi-Fi 6 connections make more reliable and efficient use of the same spectrum, that’s been in use for the last couple of decades, especially when multiple devices are connected, Wi-Fi 6E routers will work at 2.4GHz and 5GHz plus the new 6GHz band. That has enough room for up to seven maximum capacity Wi-Fi streams to broadcast in the same area at once without interfering with each other or using any existing spectrum. 

Beyond that, there’s already work on a future standard, known as IEEE 802.11be or Wi-Fi 7. That could further optimize the use of the new band with even larger 320MHz channels, 46 Gbps maximum transfer rates, and more, but it’s not scheduled to be complete until 2024 (pdf).

In the immediate future, while 6GHz Wi-Fi has the same theoretical top speed as 5GHz Wi-Fi, the extra space means that instead of getting so much interference from other devices and nearby networks, you’ll have a faster, more consistent connection. Last year a representative for the Wi-Fi Alliance said that this should enable 1–2 Gbps connections over Wi-Fi, similar to what you see now with mmWave 5G.
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AT&T argued against the FCC’s plan, saying the commission failed to identify and address possible interference with “tens of thousands of microwave links critical to maintaining network infrastructure,” talking about the wireless tech that keeps many cell sites connected to the wider internet. In one filing, AT&T said, “The 6GHz FS [fixed service] band is the only band suitable for long distance transmission, routinely supporting paths between 10-50 miles and, in cases, even longer distances.” Mobile carriers preferred a plan where the FCC would auction off a chunk of the 6GHz bandwidth for use solely by their 5G networks. The FCC said that low-power indoor use protects licensed 6GHz tech like AT&T’s microwave links and TV broadcasts from interference, while “standard power” devices used indoors and outdoors could include automated frequency control to prevent interference.

Have you ever wondered what makes 5G so unique relative to the other “G’s?” The answer, in a word, is latency. And even if you don’t know what that is yet, it makes a big difference in the way you use your phone, whether that’s hailing a rideshare like Uber, unlocking a scooter rental, or streaming a favorite show or movie.

Here’s why 5G is fundamentally different from all the other G’s, how critical cellular networking elements make it work, and all you need to know about the role that licensed spectrum plays in making it all a reality.

Defining the G’s. G stands for generation, and every cellular-service level represents a significant step up over the last. First, there was 1G, which provided voice-only services over an analog network, and the service was fraught with dropped calls and poor security. Next up, 2G brought the advent of a digital network, and with it significant improvements in security, quality, and something we pretty much all use daily today – text messaging. Then came 3G, which represented another technology leapfrog that saw mobile data support for web browsing and video calls (and Apple’s launch of the iconic iPhone). Today, 4G is the standard we enjoy. It brought improved throughput and performance and helped birth some of the disruptive services previously mentioned.

So, what makes 5G anything more than just faster? The answer is improved latency. 

Latency is the time it takes for a packet of data to travel from a sender to a receiver over a network: The lower the latency, the more responsive an application, especially if it is video intensive. Measured in milliseconds (ms), today’s 4G networks ring in at around 50ms, compared to an expected sub-5ms latency for 5G. The latter equates to nearly real-time responsiveness and is so fast it may even replace your home internet. No wonder carriers globally are eager to deploy 5G-based networks for both consumer and business applications.

The Parts That Make It Work. Core network components serve as the central part of a cellular network. They knit together mobile, fixed, and converged connectivity to ensure a more consistent user experience. The switch to 5G also brings the use of more industry-standard hardware and open-source software. Companies that deliver server, storage, and virtualization platforms such as Dell EMC, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, and VMware have made significant inroads into the telecommunications space, which has brought disruption from a cost and deployment perspective.

Some of the more recent capabilities that have come to core networking include machine learning, artificial intelligence (AI), and software-defined networking (SDN) tools. There is a degree of whitewashing with some, if not all, of these platforms, but the benefits are real. Those include faster deployment, self-healing for improved uptime, and network slicing to guarantee new service quality and new monetization opportunities for carriers and service providers.

Radio access network (RAN) components, on the other hand, play an essential role in how your smartphone or mobile device communicates across a cellular network. These include base stations, antenna arrays, and small cell platforms. Base stations are fixed points of communication within a cellular network designed to cover a specific geographic area. Based on the need for radio coverage, they can take the form of:

• Macrocells that cover a wide area and are typically found on towers
• Microcells that are used for densification of coverage in highly populated areas that can be found mounted to streetlight poles and traffic signals
• Picocells that boost coverage within buildings.

There has recently been an intense focus on Open RAN, which started as an effort by some U.S. government agencies to decrease dependence on foreign suppliers in the name of national security given the critical nature of telecommunications infrastructure. Open RAN also promises to lower operator capital and operational expenses, given some of the similarities mentioned earlier of core networking trends. As a result, several organizations make it a reality, such as the Open RAN Policy Coalition, O-RAN Alliance, and Telecom Infra Project (TIP). This alphabet soup may be tough to follow, but the takeaway is that Open RAN is poised to reduce costs and speed deployment, which could be a positive thing for new subscribers.

Licensed Spectrum. The best way to view licensed spectrum is in three buckets: The low, mid, and high bands.

For 5G, the low band provides comprehensive coverage, but only a modest improvement over 4G LTE. T-Mobile has been keenly focused on building out its low-band spectrum assets to offer the most expansive 5G coverage area, and it is an intelligent move to bring new 5G subscribers on board rapidly. The mid band balances 5G coverage with exceptional performance. It is no wonder that the recent Federal Communications Commission C-Band auction was a record-breaker in raising roughly $82B, with Verizon and AT&T spending billions of dollars to fill gaps in their respective spectrum portfolios. Finally, high band, or mmWave, provides the best 5G performance but the worst coverage. Reception is thwarted through buildings and trees, requiring many small towers to bolster signal strength. Verizon has prioritized its high band 5G buildout (branded Ultra-Wideband). Still, the challenge is that subscriber reach is limited, and service is available in just a handful of major metropolitan areas. That will improve over time, but it will not be a fast process.
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Still Seeking the Killer App. The hype cycle for 5G may be at its apex, but don’t be dismayed if it feels long in coming. The reality is that 5G is not a light switch – it’s a slow dawn. New infrastructure and unlicensed spectrum, especially in the high band mmWave, will combine to deliver a fantastic 5G subscriber experience. New service offerings for both consumers and enterprises will rival 4G, thanks to the dramatic improvements in both throughput and latency. Ridesharing was the “poster child” disruptive use case in a 4G world. It will be exciting to see what unfolds in a 5G world.

Given how much valuable information we entrust to computers these days, it’s more important than ever to ensure that your work and home networks are safe. All it takes is one chink in your Wi-Fi’s armor to compromise your system, leading to ransomware, invasion of privacy, and the loss of invaluable personal data. Learn how to secure your Wi-Fi network today, and rest easier knowing you’ve prevented future outrages.

Wi-Fi works by broadcasting the signal from your modem via a wireless router up to several hundred feet away, allowing any compatible device to connect to the internet. While this is undoubtedly a major convenience for both work and home networks, it also raises the unpleasant possibility that a cybercriminal could compromise the network and access your devices and information. Should any crime be committed using your PC, such as spamming or harassment, the investigation would lead back to your computer, potentially putting you at legal risk.

However, as long as the wireless signal is sufficiently encrypted or rearranged into a coded transmission, your network should be safe from digital eavesdroppers and intruders. Two types of encryption are commonly used on routers, computers, and other devices: Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) and Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP). The most current and robust encryption is known as WPA3, though the weaker WPA2 is more common. Either should protect you from all but the most determined cybercriminals, though WPA3 will give you greater security against the latest threats. If you’re still using WEP to protect your Wi-Fi network, even the most common hacking programs could pose a threat, so consider upgrading your router for one with WPA3 included.

Upgrade Your Wi-Fi Security. It is worth noting that even though many routers now come with WPA3 encryption as standard, some do not have encryption enabled right out of the box. Fortunately, enabling the encryption is a simple matter of following the router’s instruction manual or manufacturer’s website. Additionally, there are several steps to take during the router’s setup to minimize the risks to your network, though these settings can also be adjusted at a later time.

Limit Wi-Fi Access. First and foremost, you should consider enabling any available options to limit the number of devices that can access your network, which you can do either through your computer’s Wi-Fi or directly through your router’s app. While it might be convenient to get that Wi-Fi-connected slow cooker you saw online, Internet of Things (IoT) devices can serve as easy entry points for hackers. Each device will be assigned an individual Media Address Control (MAC) that will allow your approved devices to access Wi-Fi while blocking those without a MAC – though hackers have spoofed MAC addresses before, so don’t rely solely on this feature to secure your network.

Protect Your Router. Since your router is the primary point of contact between your network and the internet, you need to make sure it’s been well-secured as your primary form of cyber defense. Failure to secure your router can allow hackers to seize control of it, redirect your web traffic, and steal personal and financial info. If you’re still using the generic network name and password the router came with, you could be in some severe trouble and not even know it.

PC users can check their router’s encryption status by right-clicking on the Internet Access toolbar icon and selecting Properties. From there, scroll down to Properties at the bottom of the window, and you’ll be able to check the security type that’s running, which should be WPA2 at a minimum.

Mac users can check the encryption status by opening System Preferences, clicking on “Network,” and then selecting the Wi-Fi network listed and then clicking on the “Advanced…” button. The network will be listed with its encryption status.

Changing the stock password the router shipped with is of paramount importance since these manufacturer-provided details are not always randomized and are well-known by hackers. Find your router’s IP address and use that to access it. Log in and change the default password. You should also ensure that their router’s service set identifier (SSID) has been changed to a unique name that only you know.

Update Your Router’s Firmware and Software Regularly. We all update our smartphones regularly. But updating your router is even more critical. You can accomplish this by either accessing your router directly or using an app, if available. Most routers have an option to update it directly in the admin panel.

Disable Remote Access. While the idea of accessing your router from anywhere with an internet connection might seem appealing, keep in mind that anyone else with the right skills can do the same. Remote access can be disabled via accessing your router directly or using an app. 
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Essentially, by following the same practices to protect your computer from digital intrusions (frequent updates, attention to detail, malware protection, etc.), you can help keep your wireless networks safe and sound.

Some of the world’s biggest companies, like Amazon and SpaceX, are looking towards space for the future of the Internet. Satellite-based Internet is a nascent enterprise, but analysts believe that broadband Internet beamed to Earth from orbit could be a massive business within the next 20 years, earning hundreds of billions of dollars.

Attention has focused on the “space” part of “space Internet,” with news stories focused on the rocket launches getting SpaceX’s Starlink satellites into space and how Amazon plans to catch up with satellites of its own. But all of these satellites will need transceivers on Earth to send and receive data. Scientists at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and Socionext Inc. have built a new one that works with the next generation of Internet satellites.

What are transceivers? Unassuming pieces of technology, they are some of the least-flashy but most important components in history. A transceiver is a device that can both transmit and receive signals, hence the name. Combining a transmitter and a receiver into one device allows for greater flexibility, and since their development in the 1920s, they’ve been used to reach remote locations. One of the earliest transceivers, invented by the Australian John Traeger, was used to help doctors reach remote villages.

The new transceiver, designed for space internet technology, was developed at Kenichi Okada's lab at Tokyo Tech and presented recently at the virtual IEEE Radio Frequency Integrated Circuits Symposium. The new device has several improvements on both the transmitting and receiving ends of the business. All of these developments are geared toward providing Internet access in rural and remote areas. At only 3 mm (0.118 inches) by 3 mm, the transceiver can communicate with satellites over 22,000 miles above the Earth’s atmosphere.

"Satellite communication has become a key technology for providing interactive TV and broadband internet services in low-density rural areas. Implementing Ka-band communications using silicon – complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor technology in particular – is a promising solution owing to the potential for global coverage at low cost and using the wide available bandwidth," Okada said in a statement released by Tokyo Tech.

On the receiving end, the transceiver uses a dual-channel architecture. That translates into two receiving channels being able to attain signals from two different satellites simultaneously. If there’s ever any interference, be it from a malicious actor, a satellite breaking down in space, or the odd solar flare, it can effortlessly pick up another signal.

Stopping Interference. It can also handle one of the worst issues to plague any transceiver: adjacent channel interference or ACI. ACI occurs when a signal sent on one channel begins to overlap with another, adding noise and interference. The new transceiver’s dual-channel architecture can stop ACI at the source. Any interference is eliminated by adjacent channels. ACI is the type of problem that can frequently occur in remote areas, and eliminating it allows the device to extend its range even further.

On the transmitting side, Okada says that the device’s “transmitting power was the biggest challenge” for the new transceiver. Not only does it have to work, but it has to be cost-effective for companies like Amazon and SpaceX to show any consideration.

Designers use semiconductors known for the efficiency, as well as transistors made of the little-known compound Gallium arsenide, which has the lovely acronym of GaAs. GaAs transistors are superior to their more common silicon in many ways, and Okada says that getting the semiconductors and GaAs transistors to work together is “the most important technology for the transceiver design.”

Who This Helps. It’s not just space-based Internet that could benefit from the design that Okada and his team have developed. Okada says that balloon-based Internet, the type currently being implemented by Alphabet’s Loon in Kenya, could also use this improved transceiver.

In emergencies with inferior to non-existent Internet, the type that Loon, Starlink, and now Amazon’s Kuiper want to solve, every advantage can count. And now, one of the most significant advantages might come on the ground.

Many Americans are very frustrated that they have to pay a mandatory router rental charge every month as part of their ISP bill. It gets added even if you purchase and use your own router in many cases. But as of Dec. 20, the practice is now illegal, and you can demand your ISP stop the charge.

As The Verge reports, your ISP can still charge for a router sent to a customer, but that customer should be able to return the router, have the fee canceled, and supply their own router instead. The charge is typically $10 a month, so the cost of buying a router is soon recouped. A good budget router can cost less than $50, meaning you'll start seeing the benefit of money saved in less than six months.
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Don't expect ISPs to take the initiative here and cancel the fee automatically. If you are already using your own equipment, contact your ISP and demand that the fee is stopped. Send them a link to the bill if they protest. Alternatively, if you are using the equipment supplied by your ISP, do some research, see if there's a good alternative available and check the process for returning the ISP-provided equipment before attempting to cancel the fee. You want to avoid any internet downtime, especially as we are all so reliant on the internet for communication right now.

Remember when Amazon (quietly) announced its expansion to Sidewalk, back in September? Well, the feature is live for some in a new update for the Amazon Alexa app, and you might want to go turn it off. We covered it in Issue 7-25.

Sidewalk is a feature that extends the network coverage of your devices, particularly Ring surveillance tech (like its cameras, smart lights, and pet trackers) and Echo smart speakers. But it'll also share a small chunk of that internet bandwidth to provide the same services to your neighbors – so your privately-owned devices won't be so private anymore. 

Sidewalk has been slowly rolling out to Echo and Ring owners in the U.S. as of Thanksgiving, which users were made aware of via an email from Amazon. While the feature isn't up and running yet, the email essentially notifies users that it's "coming soon." But it's also the company's discreet way of letting you know the feature has officially been turned on. 

Amazon makes it easy to opt out if you're only just unboxing your shiny, new Sidewalk-compatible device. During the setup process, users are asked if they want to join the network via the Amazon Alexa app. However, if you already own one of the 20 Sidewalk-enabled products, it'll automatically opt-in for you. 
To disable Sidewalk, all you need to do is: 

• Update the Amazon Alexa app or double-check that you're on the latest version
• Open the Amazon Alexa app and tap on the More tab
• Then, tap Settings > Account Settings > Amazon Sidewalk and toggle off the Enabled button
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Thankfully, the additional Community Finding feature – which "can help your neighbors find pets and important items connected to Sidewalk by sharing the approximate location of [your] device and other Sidewalk bridges you own" is disabled automatically.

Of course, if you'd like to use Sidewalk on either your Echo smart speaker or Ring security device, you'll be happy to know you're already all set for when Amazon officially launches the new feature.