5G Wireless Technology Secret – Google asks to test a new type of wireless broadband

Google has asked the FCC for permission to conduct secret wireless broad tests using the 6GHz spectrum in multiple cities across the US, according to a document spotted by Business Insider. It wants to run “experimental propagation testing in the 6GHz band” to see if the frequencies can provide “reliable broadband connections,” the redacted application states. That could point to future internet services using the spectrum, possibly under its new Fiber WebPass banner.

Google wanted information in the public document redacted, saying that “if subject to public disclosure, would cause significant commercial, economic, and competitive harm.” It made the application for multiple cities in 17 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Virginia. In California, it plans to test in seven cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco.

5G Wireless Technology Secret – Google is trying to test a secret 6GHz network in 17 different states

Google wants to experiment with some kind of home internet service — perhaps a potential future offering under the Google Fiber Webpass banner.

But Google could have other uses for that 6GHz spectrum as well. Only recently did the FCC approve a plot of unlicensed 6GHz spectrum, and any number of things could take advantage of that. Wi-Fi 6E routers might run at 6GHz, as could vehicle-to-vehicle communication, and the latest 5G specifications suggest unlicensed 6GHz spectrum could even be used for 5G cellular networks. Google’s not limited to existing ideas, though — it’s called an unlicensed spectrum for a reason.

The thing to know about 6GHz is that it’s expected to allow for faster and more reliable connections — it can carry more bandwidth than the 2.4GHz or 5GHz connections you might already be familiar with, and there could be less wireless interference between devices as well. But just like 5GHz Wi-Fi offers shorter range than 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, it’s likely that 6GHz networks will have shorter range still.

We don’t know what Google’s working on right now. But the filings tell us Google is hoping to use that newly-opened 6GHz spectrum for some sort of “secret commercially valuable plan,” and we’re pretty curious what that might be.

5G Wireless Technology Secret – The Google Pixel 5 & Pixel 4a (5G) will be announced September 30

After previously confirming its plans to release the Pixel 5 and Pixel 4a (5G) in a handful of countries later this fall, Google has today scheduled a Made by Google press event on Wednesday, September 30. The upcoming event will be streamed online and is likely to be pre-recorded like recent Apple and Samsung press conferences. That marks a massive change in direction for Google, who typically streams its events live to the public with an audience full of press, but it’s a necessary one considering the COVID-19 pandemic. Headlining the virtual gathering will be the flagship Google Pixel 5 and midrange Google Pixel 4a (5G). These smartphones are expected to arrive powered by the Snapdragon 765 and offer 5G network connectivity as standard. In a tweet Monday, Google confirmed that it would hold a “Launch Night In” event at 11 a.m. Pacific Time (2 p.m. Eastern) on Wednesday, Sept. 30.