Meta Quest 3.

 The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday agreed to open up spectrum to certain devices, which could pave the way for new applications for augmented and virtual reality wearables.

The agency voted unanimously to open up the 6 GHz band to what it calls "a new class of ultra-low power devices like wearable technology."

FCC to help businesses; enhancing learning opportunities; It is expected to stimulate an ecosystem of cutting-edge applications, including wearable technology and augmented and virtual reality, that will bring new healthcare opportunities and entertainment experiences, according to a news release. to release

Meta

  cheered the move, with vice president of North America policy Kevin Martin saying in a statement that the vote is "a shining example of a government regulator working with industry early to build for the future."

The company sees the opening of the 6 GHz band as an important step in its vision for smart glasses. The development means that future generations of such devices will have better functionality even when the wearer is outside their home and away from a strong Wi-Fi connection.

Google says, "The 6 GHz band is becoming critical to the future of wireless connectivity."

Hardware group Pixel posted a post on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Today's vote by the FCC is a win for Pixel users and American consumers

The company describes peer-to-peer connectivity on its Android developers site as a way for devices.

"Connect directly to each other via Wi-Fi without an intermediate access point," which could be useful for multiplayer games and photo-sharing apps, it says.

Amazon

    X's message said he applauded the FCC's "continued focus on innovation in the 6 GHz spectrum." "We're using the band to deliver the latest technology to our customers, including our first Wi-Fi 7 device, eero Max 7 and the new Fire Stick 4K Max," it said.

Apple

    The same statement Thursday called the FCC vote "a positive step."

When the FCC asked for comments about opening up the unlicensed 6 GHz band in 2020, Apple, Broadcom

, Meta and Google

    The agency supported the agency's adoption of the proposal, saying it would "open up important use cases as part of the next-generation 5G ecosystem."

In a note written at the time, the companies said AR and VR devices, It's creating very low power (VLP) devices that will include headsets and game controllers — using the 6 GHz frequency band, it says, making more of these devices possible. mobile It can operate outside the house without wires.

"This capability, combined with low latency and high data rates, will support important new uses, from training life-saving surgeries to helping blind and low-vision Americans," the companies wrote at the time.

They also warned that not allowing more portable and outdoor use of AR/VR glasses would "severely reduce their usefulness" for use cases such as jogging or hiking, or next-generation fan experiences at sporting events.