Wi-Fi 6E/7 Regulations in NZ

 The enabling of 6 GHz is tied to a country's regulatory body, which in New Zealand is the Radio Spectrum Management (RSM). The RSM has opened up the 5925–6425 MHz frequency band for wireless local area network (WLAN) use. This regulatory approval is what allows Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 devices to operate on that frequency within the country.

The best source for official, definitive information is the Radio Spectrum Management (RSM) website, as they are the government body in New Zealand responsible for regulating radio frequencies.

Here is the link to their page on the outcome of the consultation for WLAN use in the 6 GHz band:

This page confirms that the 5925-6425 MHz frequency band has been made available for Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) use in New Zealand under specific conditions (Low Power Indoor and Very Low Power Indoor and Outdoor use regimes). It also explains that this decision aligns New Zealand with the approaches taken by countries in Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia.


Based on the information from the New Zealand Radio Spectrum Management (RSM), the new regulations apply to both indoor and outdoor APs, but with different conditions.

  • Low Power Indoor (LPI): This regime is for indoor use only.

  • Very Low Power (VLP): This regime allows for both indoor and outdoor use.



Low Power Indoor (LPI)

This regime is designed for standard, fixed Wi-Fi access points intended for use exclusively indoors. The purpose is to provide a significant boost in performance and capacity within buildings without causing interference to other services.

  • Location: Indoor use only.

  • Purpose: To provide high-performance Wi-Fi within buildings, such as offices, homes, and industrial facilities. This is the regime that would apply to a standard enterprise-grade access point like the Aruba AP-67x series when installed indoors.

  • Power: This regime allows for a higher transmit power. The maximum Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) is 24 dBm (250 mW). This higher power allows for a larger coverage area and more reliable connections within a building.

  • Key Condition: The AP must be designed to be used indoors and cannot be operated outdoors. The higher power levels require the building's walls and structures to act as a natural barrier to prevent the signal from radiating too far and interfering with other services.

Very Low Power (VLP)

This regime is designed for small, portable, and mobile devices that can be used both indoors and outdoors. The purpose is to allow for short-range, on-the-go connectivity without requiring the strict indoor-only rule of LPI.

  • Location: Both indoor and outdoor use are permitted.

  • Purpose: To enable mobile applications, personal hotspots, and devices that may move between an indoor and outdoor environment. In an industrial setting, this would apply to handheld scanners, tablets, or other mobile devices that an operator might use both on the factory floor and in an outdoor loading bay.

  • Power: As the name suggests, this regime has a much lower transmit power. The maximum EIRP is 14 dBm (25 mW), which is significantly less than the LPI limit.

  • Key Condition: The VLP devices can be used outdoors because their power is so low that the risk of interfering with other radio services is minimal. They do not have the same restrictions as LPI devices.




Summary

FeatureLow Power Indoor (LPI)Very Low Power (VLP)
Allowed LocationsIndoor OnlyIndoor and Outdoor
PurposeFixed, high-capacity indoor Wi-Fi.Mobile and portable short-range use.
Max Power (EIRP)24 dBm (250 mW)14 dBm (25 mW)
Industrial Use CaseFixed Access Points (APs) mounted on ceilings or walls for AGVs, fixed machinery, and other high-capacity use.Handheld devices, mobile scanners, and hotspots.



Channel Allocation and Power Limits for 5 GHz

Unlike the wide-open 6 GHz band, the 5 GHz band is divided into several sections, each with its own rules. The power limits vary depending on the specific frequency range and the use case.

Frequency RangeUse CaseMaximum Power (EIRP)
5150 - 5250 MHzIndoor Only23 dBm (200 mW)
5250 - 5350 MHzIndoor Only (with DFS)23 dBm (200 mW)
5470 - 5725 MHzIndoor & Outdoor (with DFS)30 dBm (1 W)
5725 - 5875 MHzPoint-to-Point (outdoor)53 dBm (200 W)
5725 - 5875 MHzOther (Indoor & Outdoor)36 dBm (4 W)


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