What is the 60 GHz band
60 GHz sits within the millimeter-wave portion of the spectrum (30–300 GHz), specifically in what's known as the V band. It's one of the unlicensed frequencies widely used in the range from 57 to 66 GHz, with a short wavelength of about 0.5 centimeters.
Benefits
- High bandwidth and speed. The 60 GHz band offers multi-gigabit data rates, low latency, and large available bandwidth.
- Unlicensed operation. In most countries, the 60 GHz band is allocated for unlicensed use, so there's no need to spend significant time and money obtaining a license from the FCC or other regional regulators.
- Low mutual interference. Because of its high frequency and shorter wavelength, 60 GHz signals scatter less and are more directional, making them less prone to interference from other wireless networks and devices.
- Enhanced security. The narrow beamwidth and high directionality that reduce interference also improve security, since the signal is hard to intercept outside its intended path. High security results from short transmission distances caused by oxygen absorption combined with narrow antenna beamwidth.
Downsides
- 1. Limited range. 60 GHz wireless systems have a shorter range because of the path loss encountered at this frequency — free-space path loss over just 1 meter is about 68 dB.
- Poor penetration. 60 GHz signals cannot easily penetrate walls, making the technology largely unsuitable for connecting separate rooms or building sections.
- Oxygen absorption (RF absorption). This frequency experiences a substantial absorption peak due to resonance with oxygen molecules, which becomes significant beyond about 100 meters — at short range it's not a major issue.
- Weather sensitivity. In moderate-rain regions, rain attenuation is roughly twice as strong as oxygen attenuation, and in heavy-rain regions more than three times as strong, so in real-world link design, rain often matters more than oxygen absorption.