Wireless
CableLabs and Industry Leaders Unite to Advance Open AFC Solution
Key Points
- In collaboration with industry partners, CableLabs is helping continue the development of the Open Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) solution.
- The open-source AFC solution supports Standard Power operation for unlicensed devices in the 6GHz band.
CableLabs is proud to partner with Broadcom, Cisco, the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) and the Wi-Fi Alliance (WFA) to offer an open-source version of the Open Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) solution.
This platform enables unlicensed devices to operate as Standard Power (SP) devices within the recently opened 6GHz band. SP devices have a higher power than indoor devices operating in the same band. While the most common unlicensed technology is Wi-Fi, the AFC can also support other wireless technologies.
What Is the Open AFC Project?
This partnership, called the Open AFC Project, focuses on maintaining an open-source version of the AFC. The goal is to provide a foundation for new AFC vendors to enter the ecosystem and to offer a platform for global regulators to further explore expanding share spectrum in their regions. The Open AFC open-source platform originated from the Open AFC work under the Telecom Infra Project (TIP).
In March 2024, TIP announced the retirement of the Open Automated Frequency Coordination Software Group, which had been tasked with developing a platform to enable Standard Power Wi-Fi operation in the 6GHz band. This industry collaboration group’s mission was to quickly develop an AFC platform for the U.S., with an eye toward global adoption.
The TIP Open AFC enabled three entities — Broadcom, WBA and WFA — to receive Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approval, expanding the number of AFC solutions available within the ecosystem. With the retirement of the TIP Open AFC, TIP has handed off the golden version of the open-source reference Open AFC platform to the Open AFC Project.
The goal of the Open APF Project is to manage this open-source AFC platform, ensuring continued alignment with current and future FCC regulations. Contributions from the AFC community will support ongoing improvements, and as more global regions adopt 6GHz, the AFC can expand to include their regulations and rules — ultimately supporting a unified global platform.
As additional bands are reviewed worldwide to become shared spectrum between licensed, partially licensed and unlicensed deployments, AFC technology has the potential to play a key role in coordinating services within those bands.
For more information about the Open AFC Project, contact Luther Smith, or subscribe to the CableLabs blog for updates on our work on wireless technologies and more.