What Is WiFi 6? (& Do I Need It?)

WiFi 6e is an upgraded version of WiFi 6 that was released in 2021 and extends to the 6 GHz radio-frequency band. It also accesses the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands used by WiFi 6.
 
The 6 GHz band provides a broader wireless spectrum, allowing WiFi 6e routers to add more WiFi channels, resulting in more device capacity, faster internet speeds and less signal interference.
 
Furthermore, the 6 GHz frequency band is exclusive to WiFi 6e-enabled devices. This exclusivity means that WiFi 6e devices can fully benefit from the more extensive bandwidth, spectrum and speed benefits of 6 GHz without competing with non-6e devices.
 
However, the higher 6 GHz frequency results in shorter WiFi coverage, limited to same-room or next-room connections. When you leave the 6 GHz range, the router automatically switches your connection to the 5 GHz frequency band.
 

Some of the advantages of using WiFi 6e include:

• 6 GHz provides more bandwidth than 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, making it ideal for applications that require high bandwidth, like 4K and 8K video streaming, online gaming and virtual reality (VR).
• WiFi 6e’s additional channels increased device capacity while reducing network congestion.
• The 6 GHz frequency band, being newer, has less signal interference as only WiFi 6e-enabled devices operate on this frequency.
• Improved security as it implements WPA3, which is the latest security protocol for WiFi networks.

 
Remember that WiFi 6e is a relatively new technology requiring new hardware for adoption. Furthermore, WiFi 6e routers cost more than WiFi 6 routers, and fewer devices on the market are compatible with the standard.

WiFi 6 has significantly increased speeds compared to previous generations, with theoretical speeds reaching 9.6 Gbps, up from 3.5 Gbps on WiFi 5.
 
However, the 9.6 Gbps speed is shared by a network of devices rather than a single device. This means WiFi 6-enabled devices enjoy faster speeds due to the increased maximum speed threshold.
 
As more devices connect to the network, the WiFi network’s capacity is strained, leading to a network slowdown. However, WiFi 6 introduces new technologies that mitigate network congestion, reduce latency and increase capacity.
 
These advancements include:

• Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology divides WiFi 6’s channels into smaller channels. The smaller channels enable efficient use of available bandwidth, allowing several devices to interact on the same channel. OFDMA reduces congestion as devices don’t have to wait for their turn to transmit data.
• Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO) technology increases device capacity by allowing WiFi routers to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously. WiFi 6 enables routers to communicate with up to eight devices.

 
Using technologies like OFDMA and MU-MIMO, WiFi 6 improves low latency and increases device capacity. It is ideal for simultaneous internet use when gaming, video conferencing and using smart home automation.

WiFi 6 has introduced significant improvements that have fundamentally changed how people connect to the internet. Besides faster speeds, lower latency and improved security, it has also increased the number of devices that can join a network simultaneously.
 
These developments are achievable due to the following features:

WiFi 6 operates on the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands to transmit data similar to older generations. However, it adds more channels within these bands, resulting in better resource allocation and less signal interference.

• 2.4 GHz band: The 2.4 GHz band has the largest coverage but transfers data at a slower rate. The 2.4 GHz spectrum is generally narrower and is limited to three 20 MHz channels that do not overlap. The narrow channels limit data transmission speeds compared to the channels in the 5 GHz band, but are suitable for longer-range coverage.
• 5 GHz band: On the other hand, the 5 GHz band has a broader range of channels, up to 160 MHz, that allows faster data transmission speeds and less signal interference. The 5 GHz band is suitable for applications that require higher bandwidth and low latency, such as 4K and 8K video streaming, online gaming and video conferences.

WiFi 6 incorporates a modulation scheme called 1024-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation Mode), enabling more data encoding within the same radio frequency bandwidth.
 
1024-QAM allows a 25% increase in data transmission rates within the same frequency bandwidth by varying the amplitude of radio signals and the phase. The technology increases spectral efficiency by including more data in each transmission.
 
The result is faster data transmission rates and improved network performance that can handle high-speed applications like large file transfers, 4K and 8K streaming and online gaming.

WiFi 6 supports WPA3 encryption, which improves user privacy in open networks by enhancing network security against cyber threats and providing encryption for data transfer.

WiFi 6 offers Target Wait Time (TWT) technology that helps WiFi devices and Internet of Things (IoT) devices maximize their battery life by enabling them to decide when and how often they wake up to receive and send data. It enables WiFi access points to set a specific period for individual devices to join the wireless network.
 
This approach helps smart home devices conserve power and prevent channel congestion.

WiFi 6 supports MU-MIMO and OFDMA technologies, allowing it to handle more simultaneous connections without performance degradation. These methods enable the routers to communicate with different devices simultaneously while reducing competition for bandwidth.
 
Increased device capacity enables WiFi 6 to accommodate multiple devices in homes, ensuring reliable connectivity for home automation systems.

With its higher speeds and greater efficiency than WiFi 4, WiFi 5 is well-suited for high-bandwidth applications like video streaming, online gaming and video conferencing.

Consider upgrading to WiFi 6 if your current router is over four years old. Nearly all modern phones, laptops and smart home devices support WiFi 6.

Upgrading to WiFi 6 enables your new devices to maximize WiFi 6’s faster speeds, lower latency and improved security features, making the most of your internet connection.

Here are the reasons why you should upgrade your router to WiFi 6 standards:

1. Slow WiFi performance
   If you have slow internet speeds or notice network congestion, upgrading to WiFi 6 will improve your WiFi performance. WiFi 6 can potentially provide gigabit+ speeds* and less signal interference, providing a stable and reliable device connection.
2. New devices in your home
   WiFi 6 has improved device capacity and can accommodate additional devices on your home network. Additionally, most modern devices (phones, laptops or smart devices) are compatible with WiFi 6, and upgrading to this standard fully benefits them from its advantages.
3. Demand for faster internet speeds
   If you are an avid gamer, stream HD videos, or work remotely, WiFi 6 provides faster speeds, higher bandwidth and lower latency features that can comfortably handle such applications.
4. Poor WiFi coverage
   If your current router fails to cover your home, consider upgrading to WiFi 6 and combining it with a mesh WiFi system. The mesh system extends WiFi coverage across your home and optimizes internet performance. You can place the mesh routers anywhere in your house to broaden the WiFi coverage.

Before updating to WiFi 6, make sure your devices are compatible. While WiFi 6 routers are backward compatible, you’ll only get the full benefit of WiFi 6 if your devices support it.

WiFi 7 (802.11be) is the seventh and latest iteration of WiFi standards, released on January 8th, 2024. It offers faster connections, lower latency and a higher device capacity to handle many connections compared to WiFi 6.
 
According to the WiFi Alliance, WiFi 7 offers the following improvements over the current WiFi 6 technology:

• Higher speeds: WiFi 7 offers speeds up to 46 Gbps, compared to 9.6 Gbps in WiFi 6 and 6e and 3.5 Gbps in WiFi 5.
• Wider channels: WiFi 7 provides much higher speeds by packing more data into each transmission using 320 MHz channels, which are double the size of earlier WiFi iterations’ channels.
• More data: WiFi 7 uses 4K QAM, enabling each signal to carry more data and higher throughput than WiFi 6’s 1K QAM.
• Increased reliability: WiFi 7 uses multi-link operation (MLO) to allow wireless devices to link and exchange traffic across multiple bands, resulting in lower latency and higher reliability.
• Better efficiency: WiFi 7 enhances spectrum efficiency and interference mitigation using multiple resource units (MRUs).

WiFi 7 is set to enter the commercial market, where high-speed, dependable wireless connectivity is critical. This means new opportunities in spaces like:

• Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) devices
• Vehicle automation
• Multi-user AR, VR and XR
• Remote work

However, WiFi 7 is a new technology, and transitioning to WiFi 7 in commercial settings will take some time.

This is because businesses and organizations require both infrastructure advancements and the availability of compatible devices. WiFi 7 will be gradually adopted as commercial spaces upgrade their networks and invest in WiFi 7 equipment.

WiFi 6 offers faster speeds, lower latency, higher device capacity and improved security compared to previous standards. It provides stable and faster connections for high-bandwidth activities like streaming HD videos, playing games online, or videoconferencing.
 
Homes with multiple users and devices simultaneously connected to the internet will benefit from WiFi 6’s improved device capacity and network efficiency.
 
If you regularly transfer large data files across your home network, such as for backups or video editing, WiFi 6’s faster data speeds can drastically shorten transfer times.
 
Consider upgrading to WiFi 6 to enjoy gigabit+ speeds if your home WiFi connection uses an older standard. Astound Broadband provides an internet connection with WiFi 6 standards that will improve your overall internet experience.