Since the FCC took the lead in opening up the Wi-Fi 6E band, countries have been actively following up the opening of the band and establishing regulations. ISED began to open consultations on the use of the 6 GHz band in November last year, and made a preliminary decision on the consultation results in May this year. On June 7, RABC-CCCR released RSS-248 Issue 1 (Draft) for public consultation. Comments are due no later than August 16, 2021. Here is an interpretation of RSS-248 Issue 1 (Draft):     

▲Scope

RSS-248 Issue 1 (Draft) Scope：

This Radio Standard Specification (RSS) sets out the certification requirements for licence-exempt low-power Radio Local Area Network (RLAN) devices operating indoors in the frequency band 5925-7125 MHz (the 6 GHz band).

Interpretation:

There are two keywords in the scope of RSS-248, namely "low-power" and "operating indoors", which means that the current version is only applicable to Low-Power Indoor-Only RLANs, while Very Low-Power RLANs and Standard-Power RLANs mentioned in the previous decision released in May are not included.

Low-Power Indoor-Only RLANs includes the following three product type:

◇ Indoor Access Point

An access point operating in locations completely enclosed by walls and a ceiling. Indoor access points are not battery powered, have a permanent antenna, have a direct connection to the internet, and do not have a weatherized enclosure.

◇ Indoor Subordinate Device

A device operating under control of an indoor access point. Indoor subordinate devices are not battery powered, have a permanent antenna, do not have a direct connection to the internet, and do not have a weatherized enclosure. Indoor subordinate devices may connect to indoor access points or other indoor subordinate devices within a single building or structure. Indoor subordinate devices shall not be used to connect RLAN devices between separate structures and buildings.

◇ Client Device

A device whose transmissions are under the control of an indoor access point or an indoor subordinate device. Client devices shall not be capable of initiating a network.

▲Product Type

RSS-248 Issue 1 (Draft) defines the following three product type:

▲Test Items

RSS-248 Issue 1 (Draft) needs to perform the following test items:

★ At present, the test items and limit of ISED Low-Power Indoor-Only RLANs equipment are basically the same as those of FCC, but there is a big difference:

There are differences between mask test item limit:

  ◇ FCC：Mask limit is the waveform that limits outside of channel edge (26dB EBW);

  ◇ ISED：Mask limit is the waveform that limits outside of channel edge (99% OBW).

Generally, OBW < EBW, so the mask limit of ISED is stricter than that of FCC. Now the standard is still in the open consultations stage, and it may be amended in the future.

▲ ISED Mask Limit ▲