What do the current 6 GHz rules allow?
WiFi in the 6 GHz band is authorised in Australia under the ACMA's low interference potential devices (LIPD) class licence. The ACMA opened the lower 6 GHz band, 5925 to 6425 MHz, in 2022. The class licence was later remade as the Radiocommunications (Low Interference Potential Devices) Class Licence 2025, and the ACMA's five-year spectrum outlook for 2026 to 2031 says the WiFi range now also includes 6425 to 6585 MHz.
Two power classes apply, according to the ACMA's 2022 outcomes paper:
| Class | Maximum EIRP | Power density | Where it can operate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low power indoor (LPI) | 24 dBm | 11 dBm/MHz | Indoors only (not inside vehicles) |
| Very low power (VLP) | 14 dBm | 1 dBm/MHz | Any location |
For events, the practical effect is simple. Inside a hall or conference room, 6 GHz access points can run at LPI levels and add clean channels for newer devices. In a park, on a sports field or across a festival site, only the very low power class applies, which covers short distances. That is why outdoor event networks in Australia still rely mostly on 5 GHz access points built for outdoor use.
What is Automatic Frequency Coordination?
Automatic Frequency Coordination (AFC) is a database approach to sharing the band. In the ACMA's description, it manages interference between WiFi devices and the fixed point-to-point links that already use 6 GHz. Ofcom in the UK describes the same idea from the device side:
- The access point knows its location and reports it, with its technical parameters, to an approved AFC system.
- The AFC system checks that location against the protected services nearby.
- It replies with the channels the access point may use and the maximum power for each.
That reply is what allows a standard power class: higher power than LPI, and usable outdoors, but only where it will not interfere with licensed users. Ofcom gives sports stadiums and rural fixed wireless access as examples of where this helps.
AFC is operational in the United States and Canada, and Ofcom published its decisions on registering AFC providers in July 2026. Australia is at the consultation stage.
Where is Australia in the process?
The ACMA has been working on higher-power 6 GHz use for several years. The public steps so far:
- March 2022: when it opened the lower 6 GHz band, the ACMA said it was still considering a standard power class and would decide on AFC at a later date.
- November 2025: the ACMA released a discussion paper on AFC-assisted spectrum sharing in the 6 GHz band. Submissions closed on 6 February 2026.
- March 2026: the five-year spectrum outlook noted growing interest in higher-power operation, along with interference management issues that need further consideration.
- October 2026: the ACMA published a next-steps consultation paper on AFC in the 5925 to 6585 MHz range for standard-power WiFi.
A consultation is not a decision. Power limits, the approval process for AFC providers and any start date can all change before rules are made. If you are planning equipment purchases or a multi-year venue fit-out, read the ACMA papers directly rather than relying on overseas settings.
What could standard power change for outdoor events?
If standard power 6 GHz is introduced, the benefits for open-air events would be real but specific:
- Cleaner outdoor channels. Production, media and staff laptops that support 6 GHz could move off crowded 5 GHz channels at festivals and sporting events.
- Longer reach than VLP. Outdoor access points could cover useful areas in 6 GHz rather than only a few metres around a stage or desk.
- Separation from guest traffic. A staff or production network on 6 GHz would sit away from thousands of phones on 5 GHz.
There are also practical limits that matter for temporary sites:
- The internet has to be up first. An access point needs to reach the AFC system before it can use standard power, so the backhaul link must be working before 6 GHz coverage is.
- Location matters at every site. Equipment that moves between venues has to establish its location again, and the channels available may differ from one site to the next.
- Device support. Payment terminals, ticket scanners and older phones generally use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, so a payment network still needs strong 5 GHz coverage.
How should you plan outdoor event WiFi until then?
Plan outdoor events on the rules that apply now. Our earlier explainer on 6 GHz, WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 covers the indoor side. For open-air sites:
- Use 5 GHz outdoor access points as the main layer. Start with about 50 devices per access point and roughly 900 m² per access point in open areas, then adjust for crowd density.
- Treat marquees and open-sided structures as outdoors unless you have confirmed otherwise, and plan 6 GHz there at VLP levels only.
- Link access points with cable or point-to-point links rather than relying on wireless mesh across a busy site.
- Size the internet for the peak. Each live stream needs a steady 10 to 20 Mbps upload, with 1.5 to 2 times headroom.
- Survey the site. A site survey and coverage plan shows where neighbouring networks and obstacles will cause trouble.
The event network planner gives a first estimate of access points and bandwidth. For a festival, sporting event or market, you can also send a site plan and we will propose a layout using outdoor access points.
Questions to ask before your next outdoor event
- Which bands will each network use, and is the payment network on 5 GHz with 2.4 GHz available for older terminals?
- Are any 6 GHz access points outdoors, and if so, are they configured for very low power?
- Which staff and production devices can actually use 6 GHz?
- How are access points connected back to the internet, and what happens if one link fails?
- Is the equipment able to receive firmware updates if standard power rules are introduced later?
None of these questions depend on the final AFC decision, and they will still apply once it is made.
Questions people ask
Can I use 6 GHz WiFi outdoors in Australia?
Yes, but only at very low power: 14 dBm EIRP and 1 dBm/MHz under the LIPD class licence. Low power indoor devices, at up to 24 dBm EIRP, must operate indoors and not inside vehicles.
What is standard power 6 GHz WiFi?
It is a higher-power class used in some countries, including outdoors, where an Automatic Frequency Coordination system tells each access point which channels and power levels it may use at its location.
Has the ACMA approved AFC?
Not yet. The ACMA ran a discussion paper that closed on 6 February 2026 and published a next-steps consultation paper on AFC in the 5925 to 6585 MHz range in October 2026. The final arrangements are still to be decided.
Will AFC help payment terminals at outdoor events?
Not directly. Most payment terminals and ticket scanners use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, so a reliable payment network depends on good 5 GHz coverage and a stable internet connection.
Which frequencies does Australian 6 GHz WiFi use?
The lower 6 GHz band from 5925 to 6425 MHz, with the range extended to 6585 MHz when the LIPD class licence was remade in 2025.
Sources
- ACMA: Outcomes paper, Proposed updates to the LIPD class licence for 6 GHz RLANs (March 2022)
- ACMA: Views on 6 GHz band spectrum sharing for Automatic Frequency Coordination
- ACMA: Five-year spectrum outlook 2026 to 2031 and 2026 to 2027 work program
- ACMA: Automatic Frequency Coordination in the 5925 to 6585 MHz frequency range, next steps consultation paper (October 2026)
- Telecompaper: Australia consults on 6 GHz spectrum sharing framework for standard-power Wi-Fi
- Ofcom: Automated frequency coordination (AFC)
- RCR Wireless: 6 GHz AFC fundamentals
Event dates, prices and product details can change. Check the organiser or manufacturer before you plan around them. Planning figures are starting points; every network is confirmed against the actual site.