Latest news with #AjitPai
The Verge
20 hours ago
- Business
- The Verge
Trump's ‘big beautiful bill' could mean slower Wi-Fi for you
The Senate version of the budget reconciliation bill, backed by President Donald Trump, removes protections for unlicensed spectrum that broadens the capacity of the 6GHz Wi-Fi band. This could result in slower Wi-Fi speeds. Under the bill, which may be voted on at the end of this week, the FCC would sell off some of that spectrum to mobile carriers such as AT&T, which could use it to improve the speed of their mobile data. The bill includes a provision requiring the FCC to auction 800MHz of spectrum, including bands allocated by the FCC in 2020 for unlicensed use. The version of the bill that passed the House excluded the band of frequencies between 5.925 gigahertz and 7.125 gigahertz, which includes 6GHz; however, there's no such exclusion in the Senate version. The FCC could be 'forced to sell off as much as half' of the unlicensed spectrum currently in the 6GHz band, according to Public Knowledge. Senator Cruz, chair of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, says this new spectrum auction will help prepare carriers for the next 'wireless leap.' However, as recently as this month, AT&T stated that it has 'no pressing need' for additional spectrum. One thing a spectrum auction will do is generate more revenue for the government to offset the tax cuts in the bill. Removing this spectrum from unlicensed use could negatively impact the 6GHz Wi-Fi band, which added a huge swath of capacity to Wi-Fi when former FCC Chairman Ajit Pai made 1,200 megahertz of spectrum available for unlicensed use in 2020, during Trump's first term. The 6GHz band is used by Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 to deliver faster speeds over wider, 1200MHz channels (Wi-Fi 6 uses up to 160MHz-wide channels), increasing the speed and reliability of Wi-Fi, especially with tri-band routers. The 2.4GHz and even 5GHz bands are becoming increasingly congested as we rely more and more on Wi-Fi in our homes and businesses. Devices that use 6GHz benefit from a wider, less congested 'super highway' to travel on, which reduces latency and increases speeds. Devices like newer Apple iPhones, Samsung Galaxy and Pixel devices, as well as newer MacBooks, iPads, and Lenovo ThinkPads, can use 6GHz, as well as Xbox series X and S, and some Samsung and LG TVs. Wi-Fi 6E is also being adopted by smart home devices, as it facilitates faster communication. In a letter to Cruz and the other committee members, urging them to keep the 6GHz band unlicensed, the Wi-Fi Alliance states that the 6GHz band is 'the foundation for Wi-Fi's continued development and growth' as well as playing 'a pivotal role in enabling technologies of the next decade, including artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, augmented and virtual reality.' The letter was signed by Apple, HP, Comcast, Amazon, and Meta, among others. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is in favor of selling off portions of the unlicensed spectrum.
Fashion Value Chain
05-05-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Plumbex India 2025 Sparks Urban Water Revolution
Plumbex India 2025: Strategic Collaborations and Whitepaper Lead the Way to Water Resilience Held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, Plumbex India 2025 emerged as a groundbreaking platform driving transformative change in India's urban water management. With support from the Ministry of Jal Shakti and AMRUT 2.0, and organized by the Indian Plumbing Association (IPA), the event spotlighted technology-driven and collaborative approaches to combat water scarcity affecting nearly 40% of India's population. Major Announcements at Plumbex India 2025: IPA-JLL Whitepaper Launch: The new whitepaper, 'Best Practices in Water Management', jointly released by IPA and JLL, showcases real-world water efficiency practices from top Indian facilities. It emphasizes the use of AI-enabled water monitoring, smart networks, and greywater recycling, which have achieved up to 40% efficiency gains and 30% cost savings, while aligning with green certifications like LEED and GRIHA. IPA-CEEW Strategic MoU: The partnership between IPA and Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) aims to: Develop city-level wastewater reuse plans Reduce non-revenue water losses Conduct municipal and industrial water audits Shape policies to embed circular water systems into urban infrastructure Symposium Highlights: Urban Water Scarcity Solutions A key panel, 'The Role of Water Audits and Reuse in Addressing Urban Water Scarcity,' featured leading voices including G Ashok Kumar (Ministry of Jal Shakti), Ajit Pai (Urban Arts Commission), and Sumouleendra Ghosh (KPMG). The session recommended: Making water audits mandatory for large projects Deploying AI-based leak detection systems to cut non-revenue water by 25% Promoting incentives for greywater and treated wastewater reuse IPA President Gurmit Singh Arora stressed the urgency of action: 'Water audits and reuse are now critical, not optional. With collaborative tools like the MoU and Whitepaper, we are preparing stakeholders to create climate-resilient cities.' Plumbex India 2025 reaffirmed its role as a vital enabler for sustainable, tech-led water stewardship in the built environment.
