Wi-Fi 6: What You Need to Know

The latest version of Wi-Fi is here! With faster speeds and greater capacity, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) offers a more consistent wireless experience for customers who expect a great connection 24/7/365.

The transition to Wi-Fi 6 capable devices won’t happen overnight, and ax devices will continue to live in a mixed client environment (ac, n, b, g) for the foreseeable future. With that in mind, it’s important to understand Wi-Fi 6’s key features, how Wi-Fi 6 compares to its predecessor Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and where Wi-Fi technology is heading in the future.

“At Kyrio, we have made significant investments in Wi-Fi 6 testing capabilities to help network operators and their suppliers deliver the best possible experience to end users,” said Ike Elliott, President and CEO of Kyrio. “With these investments we aim to accelerate the industry adoption of this great new technology.”

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) vs Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)

Wi-Fi 6 offers an array of benefits, yet the biggest differentiator from Wi-Fi 5 is the ability to support dozens of high-bandwidth connections at a time. With more and more people working, going to school, shopping and gaming from home, Wi-Fi 6’s upgrades come at an opportune time.

5 Key Features of Wi-Fi 6:

Improved performance in client-dense populations

Perhaps the most notable Wi-Fi 6 upgrade is Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA). OFDMA allows subdivision of transmission frequencies so that there is less contention for use of the channel, which allows Wi-Fi 6 networks to support dozens of non-competing high-bandwidth connections at a time. This increases the system efficiency while decreasing the latency in dense deployment, making more efficient use of the available spectrum. Wi-Fi 6 users can game, learn, work and stream entertainment concurrently without sacrificing quality or speed.

Stronger wireless signal

No matter the location or number of users on a network, Wi-Fi 6 offers an extended range and more robust signals, particularly in outdoor environments. This is helpful not only on residential networks with multiple users stressing a Wi-Fi connection, but also at offices and in busy public spaces – coffee shops, stadiums, libraries, etc.

Faster wireless speed

Wi-Fi 6 provides ~25% faster speeds than the previous version of Wi-Fi.

A more secure network

Wi-Fi 6 features a major security upgrade called WPA3. Using the latest security methods, like stronger password protection and authenticated encryption, WPA3 strengthens the security of wireless networks.

Improved battery life

Wi-Fi 6 devices use a new technique called target wake time (TWT) to schedule communication with routers. As a result, devices and routers don’t need to talk as frequently. Less frequent communication with routers means less drain on device batteries.

Coming Soon: Wi-Fi 6E

While the adoption of Wi-Fi 6 is here, a new frequency band has been approved for Wi-Fi use in the United States: 6 GHz. This is a LOT more capacity for Wi-Fi and will work with Wi-Fi 6. The use of Wi-Fi 6 in the 6 GHz band is called “Wi-Fi 6E,” but it is not a new Wi-Fi standard – it is simply an extension of the spectrum in which Wi-Fi 6 can operate. The extension of Wi-Fi into the 6 GHz band adds 1.2 GHz of new spectrum, a huge increase. And, because no legacy devices (ac, n, b, g) will operate on this band, there will be more free channels for Wi-Fi signals. Ultimately, both Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E will deliver more consistent and reliable end-user wireless experiences. Look for equipment that is designed to use the new 6 GHz spectrum and Wi-Fi 6E to start taking off in 2021.

Are you ready for Wi-Fi 6? Kyrio has experienced wireless professionals to help you craft or finalize your Wi-Fi 6 device testing solutions.

At Kyrio, we have the experience others don’t. Decades of communications technology expertise, relationships and partnerships position Kyrio as the most trusted source for network equipment testing and software services. Our deep technology expertise and trusted team of experts allow us to tailor programs in ways no other company can.