What Is Wi-Fi 6E Technology? What Will Be Its Benefits?

Numerous vendors are incorporating Wi-Fi 6 (also referred to as the wireless standard 802.11ax) into their hardware and penetration points (APs). You might be anxious about the advantages and profits that Wi-Fi 6 provides. It is inevitable that you have also listened to Wi-Fi 6E and are excited about how the two differ.

A quick glance at the advantages this article will discuss is as follows.

• Increased AP Capacity
• Greater Channel Width
• More Efficient Bandwidth Sharing
• Wi-Fi Sleeping
• Backward Compatibility

What is Wi-Fi 6?

Wi-Fi 6, the comparable newest adjustment of Wi-Fi technology, was released in 2019. It covenanted faster speeds (nearly three times faster than Wi-Fi 5) and enhanced the speed available when multiple devices are connected to the same network by speaking with multiple users cumulatively (instead of sequentially).

Advancements in technology were responsible for these improvements.

• Access point radios with increased MU-MIMO (multi-user, multiple input, multiple output) that can communicate with two times as many devices.
• New orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) technology empowers data to be sent to multiple devices simultaneously via a single transmission.

What is Wi-Fi 6E?

The coming condition in Wi-Fi evolution, according to Intel, is Wi-Fi 6E. Which will enhance wireless execution by making new, exclusive channels obtainable that were previously unavailable for unauthorized Wi-Fi use”.

Two signal bands 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz—have been utilized by the last three generations of wireless technology, according to Intel. Both bands are now overloaded with traffic and interference due to the addition of more devices and networks.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) pronounced to permit the unlicensed use of the 6 GHz band in April 2020, according to a PC Magazine article. This decision allows APs a significant enhancement in the amount of airwaves available for transmitting Wi-Fi signals.

The article goes on to say that the 6 GHz band’s opening is the largest addition to Wi-Fi’s spectrum since 1989. This means that routers and smart devices can use four times as many airwaves, which reduces signal interference.

How Do Wi-Fi 6 and 6E Compare?

Intel lists speed, latency, and interference as the three main profits of Wi-Fi 6E.

1. Speed

According to Intel, the biggest difference is that Wi-Fi 6E devices control a devoted 6E spectrum, offering up to seven additional 160 MHz channels. In dissimilarity, Wi-Fi 6 devices share the same congested spectrum with older Wi-Fi 4, 5, and 6 devices and only have approachability to two 160 MHz channels.

Wi-Fi 6E devices are undeveloped favorably and can connect to Wi-Fi 4, 5, and 6 networks when essential, according to Intel, even though Wi-Fi 6 devices are incapable of exploiting the 6E spectrum.

According to Intel, Wi-Fi 6E bestows accelerates to 6 times faster than Intel® Wi-Fi 5 on managed networks. For residential and consumer use, it’s nearly 3 times faster than Wi-Fi 5.

2. Latency

As per Intel, Wi-Fi 6E can cut down on the time it accepts for data to travel from one point on a network to different by 75% by exploiting the unshared 6E spectrum (compared to Wi-Fi 5). As a result, lag time is decreased for programs like gaming and video conferences.

3. Interference

Additionally, according to Intel, Wi-Fi 6E devices offer “greater reliability and efficiency” because they utilize the exclusive 6 GHz spectra, which is “not impacted by legacy device traffic”.

Top 5 Benefits Of Wi-Fi 6/6E

We go into more detail about the advantages that Wi-Fi 6/6E provides here.

1. Increased AP Capacity

Because of a number of features, Wi-Fi 6/6E is preferably provisioned to manage the demands of numerous mobile devices without compromising performance.

With more employees working remotely and the workforce becoming progressively mobile, this has become more necessary than ever. Present-day workers typically own a workstation, a mobile device, and maybe additional smart devices and accessories.

The number of sensors, scanners, and other detritus of equipment to take into account is also perennially growing in sectors like advanced manufacturing and warehousing.

Video and voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) phone systems have also become progressively popular for actual time communication.

The increased AP capacity made possible by the Wi-Fi 6/6E standard guarantees a consistent degree of usability across all devices in your company, preventing lag, jitter, or frozen audio and video communications.

2. Greater Channel Width

The idea of channel width is one that influences speed.

Higher speeds can be achieved by combining 20 MHz channels into 40 MHz and 80 MHz channels using 5 GHz channels. You can access 160 MHz channels with Wi-Fi 6, but that spectrum is constrained. That being said, 160 MHz might only function reliably in a single AP environment, like a home network. Attempting to operate multiple APs at 160 MHz will undoubtedly result in interference and will not function as well as it may appear on paper.

However, by automatically switching between 20, 40, 80, and 160 MHz as the environment permits, Wi-Fi 6/6E still provides benefits even in a multi-AP environment. In response to shifting network demands, this backs off to 20 or 40 MHz after providing bandwidth when required. Furthermore, Wi-Fi 6E devices, as previously indicated, make use of a specific 6E spectrum that gives them access to seven extra 160 MHz channels.

3. More Efficient Bandwidth Sharing

Better speeds are the result of additional efficiencies that Wi-Fi 6/6E offers networked devices.

More Antennas

Wi-Fi 6/6E, for instance, has advanced in terms of the number of antennas it can accommodate by employing a maximum configuration of 8×8:8 (which specifies the number of spatial streams and the number of AP transmit and receive antennas).

By increasing the number of antennas, speeds can be increased and, with the help of MU-MIMO technology, multiple users can even “talk” at the same time. One user could only be “talking” at once using outdated protocols and APs.

Scheduling Data

Better end-user experience and capacity gains result from the 802.11ax standard’s superior performance in dividing up user time and “scheduling” the data.

Similar to the speed increases for the 802.11n and 802. Wi-Fi 6/6E boasts improvements to modulation using OFDMA, as previously discussed, and is able to meet 11ac standards because of improved signal coding and modulation.

By using OFDMA, a variety of users and devices with different needs and speeds can more effectively share bandwidth. If the signal is clear and the user is near the AP, modulation techniques allow for an additional speed boost. Better performance and capacity are the outcome of these enhancements. Even if your users are unaware of it, Wi-Fi 6/6E reduces the amount of bandwidth that they compete with their neighbors.

4. Wi-Fi Sleeping

Prior wireless standards were binary; devices were either connected or they weren’t. With the help of Wi-Fi 6/6E, devices that support it can effectively put their Wi-Fi to “sleep” when not in use, freeing up bandwidth and possibly extending the life of their batteries.

5. Backward Compatible

Both the 802.11ax standard and the APs that implement it have backward compatibility. This implies that 802.11 ac, n, g, b, and devices ought to function properly. To make sure there are no problems, it is always a good idea to test your devices with your preferred AP beforehand. This is particularly valid for more antiquated gadgets like scan guns. Note that old standards, particularly 802.11b, cause horrible bottlenecks and prevent you from taking advantage of all the new features of Wi-Fi 6/6E.

4 Challenges Wi-Fi 6/6E Won’t Solve On Its Own

There are some problems that Wi-Fi 6/6E by itself cannot resolve, but it does have features that make it a significant improvement over earlier wireless standards rather than a minor bump.

• communication
• coverage
• external speed & performance
• improving the functionality of unsupported devices

This article, “4 Challenges Wi-Fi 6/6E Won’t Solve On Its Own,” goes into greater detail about these issues. As you upgrade end-user devices to Wi-Fi 6/6E compatible models in the future, making sure that upgraded access points (APs) support Wi-Fi 6/6E will enhance your IT environment’s performance now and add more functionality later on.

Is Wi-Fi 6/6E Right For You?

You will have the knowledge essential to negotiate whether or not this is the right time for you to make a penetration in Wi-Fi 6/6E after reading this article. Determinately, the preference is yours to assemble.

Abstractedly, all users would transmigrate to Wi-Fi 6/6E approach points and devices in order to profit from all of its features. In sincerity, businesses often face challenges like scheduling collisions and budget constraints, among other obstructions. Since technology is constantly evolving, I usually advise clients who are replacing gear to spend their money on the newest models. As they proceed with their lifecycle replacement, this guarantees that all facets of their IT environment will continue to benefit from the most recent developments.

A word of caution, though, when thinking about Wi-Fi 6/6E. Although it has a lot of potential and some fantastic features, as we’ve already discussed, buying Wi-Fi 6/6E capable hardware right away could be an expensive mistake if you don’t plan ahead. First, I would advise you to do a site survey to make sure your investment is a good one.

This will provide crucial information about your environment, assist you in creating a strategy that best caters to end users, and show you where to position APs for the best possible coverage—whether or not they support WiFi 6/6E. It is more of a science than an art to plan and design wireless networks.

Conclusion

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E indicate considerable advancements in wireless technology, proposing faster speeds, better capacity, and elevated efficiency. Wi-Fi 6 delivers an increase in compliance by communicating with more devices at once and using developed technologies like MU-MIMO and OFDMA. Wi-Fi 6E goes even antecedently by unlocking the 6 GHz band, which helps minimize intervention and offers an extra spectrum for faster, more constant connections.

While the profits are clear, upgrading to Wi-Fi 6/6E is a definition that postulates careful planning. Businesses must consider their current network needs, existing infrastructure, and budget. Conducting a site survey is crucial before investing in new hardware to ensure optimal coverage and performance.

Neeraj Gupta

Neeraj is a Content Strategist at The Next Tech. He writes to help social professionals learn and be aware of the latest in the social sphere. He received a Bachelor’s Degree in Technology and is currently helping his brother in the family business. When he is not working, he’s travelling and exploring new cult.

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