Automated Frequency Coordination System

The Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) system is a spectrum sharing mechanism developed for license-exempt (LE) devices to securely share spectrum with licensed operators. It is a regulatory requirement aimed at maximizing spectrum access and minimizing interference in the 6 GHz band between unlicensed Wi-Fi 6e/7 devices and licensed devices in various services such as fixed services, satellite services, television/broadcast services, and ultra-wide band services.

To prevent interference with licensed devices, unlicensed Standard Power devices that operate in 6 GHz spectrum must consult an AFC system before operation. In the United States, the AFC system uses data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) agency's Universal Licensing System (ULS) and Equipment Authorization System (EAS), which includes all licensed users currently operating in the 6 GHz band, to coordinate the shared use of the spectrum between these incumbents and the unlicensed operators. The interaction with these databases is read-only, where the AFC can retrieve data but cannot modify it.

APs are required to register with the AFC system, and thereafter must check in with the system every 24 hours to obtain a current list of available channels. If an AP fails to connect with the AFC, it is allowed to continue operating until 11:59 p.m. on the following day. However, if the AP still fails to connect after this period, it must cease Standard Power operation: Indoor APs revert to Low Power Indoor (LPI) limits, while outdoor APs cease operating in the 6 GHz band.

The AFC system authenticates each AP using its serial number and regulatory ID, which are unique identifiers for the AP. This ensures that only authorized APs are allowed to operate within the specified frequency bands. The AFC system is required to store the registered information of each AP for a period of three months. This includes the registration details and connection history for each AP. This data can be used for troubleshooting, auditing, and ensuring compliance with regulations.

APs must automatically self-geolocate their own geographical position in terms of latitude, longitude, and height above ground level. The geographical position is used to derive a Location Uncertainty Volume within which the AP has a 95% probability of being located.

The following image illustrates services offered by RUCKUS in the AFC System.

RUCKUS AFC Architecture

In this section:

  1. AFC Power Modes
  2. RUCKUS AFC System Architecture
    RUCKUS employs a cloud-based architecture to deliver Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) support across its product lines of enterprise Wi-Fi Access Points (APs). Within the RUCKUS cloud, an AFC Proxy Server and a Geolocation Service Server are hosted, both of which are exclusively accessible to registered RUCKUS client devices.
  3. How RUCKUS AP Geolocation Works
    The Geolocation Service Server aids APs in pinpointing their geolocation coordinates. In any given venue, APs are categorized into two distinct groups. The first is a small group of Reference APs, for which geolocation coordinates are initially established. The second is a larger group of Non-Reference APs, for which geolocation coordinates are inferred based on their relative distance to each other and to the Reference APs. Geolocation coordinates of any Non-Reference AP can be determined only when there is a distance connection to a Reference AP, either directly or indirectly.
  4. Mobile Applications
  5. Enabling Automated Frequency Coordination from SmartZone
    To set the geolocation of the APs and to verify their status, it is essential to enable the AFC feature in the controller.
  6. Checking Automated Frequency Coordination Status
    The AFC Status and additional AFC-related information for a specific AP can be viewed on the Access Points page. Logged in to your SmartZone controller, perform the following steps:
  7. Setting GPS Coordinates Using the RUCKUS One Mobile App
    The US FCC mandates AFC geolocation to determine the permissibility of transitioning to substitution-permutation in specific channels. It is different from the concept of the GPS coordinates of the Zone configuration that can be manually entered. The identification of the geographic location of a device is based on various data collected from different areas of the same place.
  8. Setting GPS Coordinates Using the SWIPE Mobile Application
Parent topic: Radio Band Features