LitePoint, a leading provider of wireless test solutions, has collaborated with the Wi-Fi Alliance to support Automatic Frequency Coordination (AFC) certification on its IQxel-MW 7G test platform. In 2020, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened an unprecedented 1200 MHz of spectrum for unlicensed use in the 6 GHz band to facilitate access to wider channels, higher throughput, lower latency, and superior network efficiency.
However, to accommodate technologies that already operate in this band, the FCC defined two different classes of operation: Low power indoor and Standard power indoor/outdoor. In order to avoid interference in Standard power operation, the FCC created the AFC system to coordinate spectrum use. The AFC certification program is designed to ensure the Standard-power access points operating in the 6 GHz band can operate at maximum permissible powers without interfering with incumbent licensed services thus offering robust, wide-scale Wi-Fi deployment indoors as well as outdoors and high-quality broadband user experience.
“Wi-Fi Alliance is leading the development of critical work that will enable implementation of standard power devices under the control of the AFC system, which will help utilize the full potential of the 6 GHz band,” said Kevin Robinson, President and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance. “We look forward to continuing to work with LitePoint on important initiatives aimed at maximizing value in the 6 GHz band.”
Adam Smith, Director of Product Marketing at LitePoint, said, “We are pleased to collaborate with the Wi-Fi Alliance and to assist our customers in obtaining AFC certification and ensuring that they can launch their Wi-Fi products with utmost confidence, knowing that they meet the highest standards of quality and performance in the market.”
LitePoint is a long-term, active member of the Wi-Fi Alliance and collaborates closely to provide test solutions that align with the Alliance’s specific requirements. In addition to delivering testing solutions around the AFC specification, LitePoint has supported other programs such as the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 certification.
Technical Details
LitePoint’s IQxel family of testers – IQxel-MW 7G and IQxel-MX – provides industry-leading performance for Wi-Fi 6E/7 device testing. The comprehensive test platforms combine signal generation and analysis in a compact single-box architecture enabling testing from R&D through high-volume production. Available in three different configurations: 2 ports (2 VSA/VSG), 8 ports (2 VSA/VSG), and 16 ports (4 VSA/VSG), the testers offer best-in-class error vector magnitude (EVM) for the highest measurement accuracy, scalable MIMO architecture and high-efficiency Multi-DUT testing.
Click here to learn more about LitePoint on everything RF.
