What changed in Australia
For years, WiFi in Australia worked in two bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. In 2022 the ACMA updated the low-interference potential devices (LIPD) class licence so that WiFi could also use the lower 6 GHz band, 5925 to 6425 MHz, which is 500 MHz of new spectrum. In its December 2024 outcomes paper on the upper 6 GHz band, the ACMA said it would add 6425 to 6585 MHz for WiFi when the class licence was remade, and reserve most of the remaining upper band for wide-area wireless broadband.
Together, the lower band and the planned extension allow very wide channels, including combinations of 160 MHz and 320 MHz channels, according to the ACMA. Indoor power limits for 6 GHz WiFi remain low, which matters for how far a 6 GHz signal reaches.
WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 in plain English
- WiFi 6E is WiFi 6 that can also use the 6 GHz band. The main benefit is more channels that older devices cannot crowd.
- WiFi 7 adds wider channels (up to 320 MHz) and multi-link operation, where a device can use more than one band at the same time. Peak speeds rise, but the practical gain at an event is steadier performance when many devices are active.
- Older devices cannot see 6 GHz at all. A phone or payment terminal from a few years ago will only ever join on 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz.
Equipment support for the newer 6 GHz range can depend on firmware and on how the manufacturer has certified the device for Australia, so check before you rely on it.
Where 6 GHz helps at events and temporary sites
The biggest problem at exhibitions, conferences and markets is not raw speed. It is many networks and many devices sharing the same channels: every exhibitor's router, every phone hotspot and the venue's own WiFi compete in 2.4 and 5 GHz. Our guide on trade show WiFi interference explains why that slows everyone down.
6 GHz helps in three practical ways:
- Production and media networks. Laptops and cameras that support 6 GHz can move to clean channels for uploads and streams, away from the crowd. Wired ports are still the first choice for a live stream; see live streaming internet.
- Dense rooms. In a plenary session or keynote, newer phones and laptops shift to 6 GHz and leave more 5 GHz room for everyone else.
- Temporary offices and warehouses. Point-to-point links and staff networks benefit where there are many neighbouring networks.
Where it does not help
- Range and walls. 6 GHz signals fade faster than 5 GHz and are absorbed more by walls, glass, tents and people. Coverage usually needs access points placed closer together, not further apart.
- Payment terminals and scanners. Most EFTPOS terminals, ticket scanners and IoT devices in use today are 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz only. A payment network still needs good 5 GHz and sometimes 2.4 GHz coverage; see EFTPOS and payment networks.
- The internet connection. Faster WiFi does not add bandwidth to the line. If a 100 Mbps connection is shared by 500 people, the bottleneck is the connection, not the band.
- Outdoors. Outdoor 6 GHz use is more restricted and power is lower, so open-air events still rely mostly on 5 GHz access points designed for outdoor use.
A practical band plan for a mixed crowd
| Network | Bands | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Guests | 5 GHz and 6 GHz, 2.4 GHz only if needed | Newer phones move to 6 GHz; per-device limits keep usage fair |
| Payments and scanners | 5 GHz, plus 2.4 GHz for older terminals | Matches what terminals actually support |
| Staff and production | 6 GHz preferred, 5 GHz fallback | Clean channels for laptops and uploads |
| Cameras and devices | Wired PoE where possible | Steadier than any wireless band |
The planning assumptions on this site stay the same: about 50 devices per access point as a starting point, 1.5 to 2 devices per working person, and roughly 900 m² per access point on an open floor. 6 GHz changes how cleanly those devices share the air, not how many access points the space needs. Use the event network planner for a first estimate.
Questions to ask before hiring equipment
- Do the access points support 6 GHz, and are they configured for the Australian 6 GHz range?
- Which of your devices (laptops, cameras, terminals, scanners) can actually use 6 GHz?
- Which networks will run on which bands, and does the payment network still have strong 5 GHz coverage?
- Is the internet connection sized for the busiest moment, with a backup?
Our router and access point hire and event WiFi hire include a band plan matched to your devices. Send a floor plan and a device list and our Sydney team will recommend a setup.
Questions people ask
Can WiFi use the 6 GHz band in Australia?
Yes. Since 2022, WiFi in Australia can use the lower 6 GHz band, 5925 to 6425 MHz, under the ACMA's LIPD class licence. The ACMA has also set out plans to add 6425 to 6585 MHz for WiFi.
Do I need WiFi 7 equipment for an event?
Not usually. WiFi 7 helps in dense rooms and for production laptops that support it, but most event problems come from coverage, separate networks and the internet connection. A well-planned WiFi 6 or 6E network handles most events.
Will my EFTPOS terminal work on 6 GHz?
Most payment terminals in use today support only 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz, so they cannot join a 6 GHz network. Keep the payment network on bands the terminals support and check with your payment provider.
Does 6 GHz WiFi reach further?
No. 6 GHz signals have shorter range and are absorbed more by walls and people than 5 GHz, so access points usually need to be closer together.
Sources
- ACMA — Outcomes paper: Proposed updates to the LIPD class licence for 6 GHz RLANs (March 2022)
- ACMA — Outcomes paper: Future use of the upper 6 GHz band (December 2024)
- Cisco Meraki — High Density Wi-Fi Deployments
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.