The FCC ruling could open up new opportunities for AR and VR applications, as Meta, Apple, and Google are all happy with the decision.

• On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission decided to allocate a section of spectrum for certain types of wearable technology.
• The FCC should take this step, as advocated by Apple, Broadcom, Meta, and Google, to facilitate the development of a new generation and application of augmented and virtual reality wearables.
• The FCC expects it will “spur an eco-system of cutting-edge applications.”

On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission decided to make available a portion of spectrum for certain devices, potentially facilitating the development of new applications for augmented and virtual reality wearables.

The agency voted to open the 6 GHz band for low-power devices, including wearable technology.

The FCC anticipates that it will foster a community of innovative technologies, such as wearable devices and immersive realities, which will benefit businesses, improve education, enhance healthcare, and create new forms of entertainment, as stated in a press release.

The move was cheered by the vice president of North America policy, Kevin Martin, who stated in a statement that the vote represents a government regulator collaborating with industry to create a better future.

The company views the emergence of the 6 GHz band as a crucial element in its plan for enhancing the capabilities of its smart glasses. This advancement enables future models of these devices to offer more features even when users are away from a robust Wi-Fi network.

Pixel's hardware group stated on X that the 6 GHz band is crucial for the future of wireless connectivity. The FCC's vote today is a victory for Pixel users and American consumers, as this band will now be accessible for high-speed peer-to-peer WiFi communication.

The company's Android developers site describes a peer-to-peer connection as a way for devices to connect directly to each other via Wi-Fi without an intermediate access point, which can be useful for multiplayer games and photo-sharing apps.

The message on X commended the FCC's ongoing efforts to promote innovation in the 6 GHz band. It stated that the company is utilizing the band to provide its customers with the latest technology, such as its first Wi-Fi 7 device, the eero Max 7, and the new Fire Stick 4K Max.

The FCC vote was similarly called a positive step forward in a statement on Thursday.

In 2020, Apple, Meta, and others urged the FCC to allow unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band, arguing that it would be crucial for the development of the next generation 5G ecosystem.

The statement made in a written comment at the time was that the companies believed that creating a class of very low power (VLP) devices, which would include AR and VR tools, headphones, and game controllers, with access to the 6 GHz band would enable these tools to become more mobile, allowing them to operate without a wire and outside of the home.

The combination of this capability, low latencies, and high data rates would enable new critical use cases, such as training for life-saving surgeries and assisting blind and low-vision Americans.

The use of AR/VR glasses would be severely limited if they are not made more portable and suitable for outdoor activities such as jogging, hiking, and next-generation fan experiences at sporting events.