What are Wi-Fi 6E Access Classes?

To better help to utilize the spectrum Access Classes have been added. This better defines how specific devices operate in specific environments.

There are currently 4 Access Classes in Wi-Fi 6E:

• Standard Power (Indoor/Outdoor)
• Low Power
• Client (Indoor/Outdoor)
• Very Low Power (Indoor/Outdoor)

Standard Power (Indoor/Outdoor)

• This is the only access class that supports Access Points to be used outdoors.
• Can also be used indoors as long as all the requirements are met.
• Has a max power of 36 dB EIRP.
• Access Points must be coordinated through an Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) service to make sure that it does not interfere with other devices in the area.
• Limited to UNII-5 and UNII-7 bands.
• Not used in all countries/regions. Please check the requirements of your specific country/region for more details.

Low Power (Indoor)

• Also referred to as LPI.
• Max Power is expressed as Power Spectral Density (PSD)
• PSD is 5 dBm/MHz. This means the power is higher as the channel gets wider. In general PSD is:
• 20 MHz wide channel - 18 dBm EIRP
• 40 MHz wide channel - 21 dBm EIRP
• 80 MHz wide channel - 24 dBm EIRP
• 160 MHz wide channel - 27 dBm EIRP
• Can operate in UNII-5, UNII-6, UNII-7 and UNII-8 bands but only indoors.
• There are certain device restrictions in place to make sure that devices are only used indoors:
• Cannot use a removable antenna. It must be integrated to the device.
• Devices cannot have a weatherized enclosure.
• Devices must be line powered and cannot use a battery.

Very Low Power (Indoor/Outdoor)

• Also known as VLP.
• Can operate in UNII-5, UNII-6, UNII-7 and UNII-8 bands either indoors or outdoors.
• Designed for mobile devices.
• Power Spectral Density limit is -8 dBm/MHz.

Clients (Indoor/Outdoor)

• Can operate in UNII-5, UNII-6, UNII-7 and UNII-8 bands either indoors or outdoors.
• Power must be 6 dB lower than the max EIRP of the Access Point it is associated to.