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As the average number of user devices increases in homes, wireless networks need to improve. WiFi 6 looks to address the issue, but what is it and just how will it improve the user experience?

WiFi 6 (802.11ax) is the latest generation of WiFi which aims to improve efficiencies in wireless networks, delivering faster speeds and improved reliability. The WiFi Alliance are now marketing wireless standards that you may be more familiar with in order to make them easier to recognise and remember for consumers - 802.11n, 802.11ac and 802.11ax are referred to as WiFi 4, 5 and 6 respectively. 

The Capacity for More

The average number of wireless-enabled devices owned by Internet-users has increased significantly over the past few years, leading to heavy congestion in the frequencies that WiFi operates at. Wireless networks must improve to be able to cope with more connections and the increased volume and frequency of data transfers, which is a key issue that WiFi 6 aims to address. In practical terms, WiFi 6 aims to bring significant increases in connection speeds, with some suggesting it could be almost three times faster than the current generation of WiFi (with potential speeds of 9.6 Gbps).

In real-world terms however, users are unlikely to ever reach these speeds as consumer devices are not expected to be capable of matching them. The real strength of WiFi 6 is found in its increased capacity - meaning it is better equipped to cope with the higher number of devices found in the home and workplace. With device ownership and required data transfer increasing, there will come a point in the not-too-distant future where many current wireless networks will simply not be up to the job.

Will current devices work with WiFi 6?

Yes, however, the vast majority of current user devices are WiFi 5 devices, meaning they won’t be able to take advantage of WiFi 6 features. This will change over the coming years as newly released devices are WiFi 6 enabled. All current devices will still work with WiFi 6 as the routers and access points are backwards compatible with previous versions, but they will be limited to WiFi 5 capabilities. If users do have WiFi 6 enabled devices, their router or access point will also need to be WiFi 6 enabled to utilise the full features. 

WiFi 6 and 5G

5G promises super-fast speeds of up to 10 gigabits per second, but in practice, it may be that these speeds are rarely achievable for 5G-enabled devices. 5G signals have trouble penetrating walls due to the higher frequencies that they operate at and there is strong evidence to suggest that cellular 5G frequencies are significantly worse at penetrating walls, glass and buildings than 4G. This is why a WiFi or ethernet connection is needed in buildings to ensure the fastest, most reliable data transfers. Many user devices may not be 5G-enabled either, meaning that a WiFi (or ethernet) connection is the only way to access the full features of the device.

WiFi 6E

We expect to see widespread WiFi 6-compatible device ownership in around 2026, at which time WiFi 6E will have arrived, offering even greater network capacity and speed benefits for users. WiFi 6E devices are able to operate on the 6 GHz radio band, providing additional non-overlapping channels which will reduce congestion, especially in environments with lots of networks, such as residential buildings.

WiFi standards are improving to cope with the increased demand and ways in which the Internet is being used. ASK4 will be advising our partners on the right wireless infrastructure to install at the right times to ensure the best possible connectivity experience for residents and deliver cost-effective, future proofed solutions for operators. If you would like to know more about WiFi 6, its features, and whether it is the right solution for your development, please get in touch.

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