Next Generation Wi-Fi: Accelerating 5G for All Americans

Lost amidst the hype around super-fast 5th Generation (5G) mobile networks is the reality that the next generation of Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6) is ready now. Wi-Fi 6 is capable of providing gigabit-fast 5G capabilities to consumers and businesses in cities, suburbs, and rural areas far sooner and more affordably than cellular networks. What’s missing is access to the wide channels of public airwaves that the Federal Communications Commission has proposed to open for shared, unlicensed use, from 5.9 to 7.2 GHz.

Today’s 4G wireless ecosystem depends on Wi-Fi, but the unlicensed spectrum which facilitates Wi-Fi connectivity is increasingly congested. Between 60 and 80 percent of mobile device data traffic flows over Wi-Fi and unlicensed spectrum, making Wi-Fi an essential complement to the on-the-go connectivity provided by licensed mobile carrier services. A world-leading 5G ecosystem will likewise require Wi-Fi to keep pace, providing the gigabit-fast and affordable capacity needed to connect tens of billions of devices in smart homes, classrooms, public venues and for enterprise IoT networks.

FCC Commissioners Mike O’Rielly and Jessica Rosenworcel will join us to discuss Wi-Fi’s future, particularly the pending FCC proposals they have championed to expand access to more than 1,200 megahertz of additional unlicensed spectrum needed to fuel the Wi-Fi revolution. Our other speakers will explain how Wi-Fi 6 is a game-changer for consumers at home as well as for schools, enterprise networking, health care, rural broadband connectivity, and quality of service for a wide range of applications, including virtual reality, high-resolution video conferencing, and more.

Follow the conversation online using #NextGenWiFi and following @OTI.

Lunch will be served.

Keynote Discussion:

FCC Commissioner Michael O’Rielly, @mikeofcc

FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, @JRosenworcel

Speakers:

Vijay Nagarajan, @nvcidambi
Vice President of the Mobile Connectivity Division, Broadcom
Vijay Nagarajan's presentation

Mary Brown, @MaryBrownindc
Senior Director of Technology and Spectrum Policy, Cisco

David Don, @ComcastPolicy
Vice President, Regulatory Policy at Comcast Corp.

Susan Bearden, @s_bearden
Chief Innovation Officer, CoSN—Coalition for School Networking

Christina Mason, @cmarymase
Vice President of Government Affairs, Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA)

Moderator:

Michael Calabrese, @MCalabreseNAF
Director, Wireless Future Project, New America’s Open Technology Institute