Automated Frequency
Coordination (AFC) in
the 6 GHz Band

Enabling Next-Gen Wi-Fi While Protecting Incumbent Users

What is AFC?

Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) is a spectrum sharing capability concept established by the United States of America (USA) Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to manage the use of the 6 GHz frequency band (5.925–7.125 GHz) for unlicensed wireless devices, such as Wi-Fi Equipment and devices.

Its implementation ensures that new, high-speed wireless devices can operate in this band without causing interference to existing incumbents, such as fixed microwave services and radio astronomy facilities.

AFC Operators in the USA. must be approved by the FCC, and the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) received its conditional approval from the FCC in Nov 2022. Since then, the WBA has completed the certification process and the FCC certified WBA as an AFC Operator.

In May 2025, the commercial arm of the WBA, Wireless Broadband Alliance Services was launched to deliver AFC to the USA market and as the market matures.

Why AFC Matters

As demand for wireless connectivity grows, the FCC has opened parts of the 6 GHz band to unlicensed use. However, this spectrum is already used by licensed services.

AFC is essential to:

Support high-speed wireless innovation,
including Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7

Protect existing incumbents/operations
from interference

Enable safe and efficient
spectrum sharing

How AFC works

Location Detection

Before transmitting, a standard-power device or proxy
determines its location.

Querying the AFC system

The device sends this location (and other technical info) to the WBA AFC service

Channel Availability Check

WBA AFC service checks a database of licensed incumbents/operations and calculates which frequencies are available to use in that specific location to maximize the use of the spectrum

Authorization to Transmit

The device receives a list of approved frequencies and power levels for operation

Regular updates

Devices must check in with the AFC service at least once per day to stay current
Flowchart showing the AFC system process for registering devices, calculating frequency and power, and authorizing standard power devices based on FCC data and regulations.

Device Categories

Full charge battery

Standard-Power Devices

Can operate indoors and outdoors at higher power but must use AFC.

Half charge battery

Low-Power Indoor (LPI) Devices

Designed for indoor use; do not require AFC due to their low power.

Low charge battery

Very Low Power (VLP) Devices

Can operate without AFC—even outdoors—under specific power and usage limits.

Key Benefits of AFC

As demand for wireless connectivity grows, the FCC has opened parts of the 6 GHz band to unlicensed use. However, this spectrum is already used by important licensed services.

  • Enables unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band

  • Drives innovation in high-performance wireless technologies

  • Protects existing services

  • Promotes smarter, more flexible spectrum use