Wi-Fi 6E is the latest and most advanced version of the wireless networking standard that we use every day to connect our devices to the internet. It offers faster speeds, lower latency, and more capacity than ever before. But what makes Wi-Fi 6E so special? And how can you benefit from it? In this blog post, we will answer these questions and more.
What is Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E is an extension of Wi-Fi 6, which is the sixth generation of the Wi-Fi standard. Wi-Fi 6 was introduced in 2019 and brought significant improvements over the previous versions, such as Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 4. Some of these improvements include:
- Higher data rates: Wi-Fi 6 can deliver up to 9.6 Gbps of data, which is almost three times faster than Wi-Fi 5, which can deliver up to 3.5 Gbps.
- Lower latency: Wi-Fi 6 can reduce the delay between sending and receiving data, which is crucial for applications that require real-time responsiveness, such as gaming, video conferencing, and virtual reality.
- More capacity: Wi-Fi 6 can support up to four times more devices on the same network, which is essential for the growing number of smart devices that we use in our homes and workplaces, such as laptops, smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, smart speakers, smart lights, smart thermostats, and more.
- Better efficiency: Wi-Fi 6 can optimize the use of the available spectrum and reduce the interference and congestion that can slow down the network performance. It can also save battery life for the devices by using a feature called Target Wake Time (TWT), which allows them to sleep when they are not in use and wake up only when they need to communicate.
Wi-Fi 6E takes Wi-Fi 6 to the next level by adding a new frequency band to the mix: the 6 GHz band. This band was previously reserved for other uses, such as satellite communications and radar systems, but it was opened for Wi-Fi use by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States in April 2020, and by other regulators around the world since then.
The 6 GHz band is a game-changer for Wi-Fi because it offers a huge amount of spectrum that is free from interference and congestion. The 6 GHz band has 1,200 MHz of spectrum, which is more than the combined spectrum of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, which have 70 MHz and 500 MHz, respectively. This means that Wi-Fi 6E can use up to seven 160 MHz channels or fourteen 80 MHz channels in the 6 GHz band, compared to only one 160 MHz channel or two 80 MHz channels in the 5 GHz band.
The 6 GHz band also offers better propagation and penetration than the 5 GHz band, which means that Wi-Fi 6E can cover larger areas and reach through walls and other obstacles more easily. This can improve the signal quality and reliability of the Wi-Fi network.
What are the benefits of Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E can provide many benefits for users and businesses that rely on wireless connectivity for their daily activities. Some of these benefits include:
- Faster speeds: Wi-Fi 6E can deliver up to 10.8 Gbps of data, which is 20% faster than Wi-Fi 6. This can enable faster downloads, uploads, streaming, gaming, and more.
- Lower latency: Wi-Fi 6E can reduce the latency by up to 75%, which can improve the responsiveness and performance of applications that require real-time interaction, such as gaming, video conferencing, and virtual reality.
- More capacity: Wi-Fi 6E can support up to eight times more devices on the same network, which can accommodate the increasing demand for wireless connectivity from the growing number of smart devices that we use in our homes and workplaces.
- Better efficiency: Wi-Fi 6E can use the spectrum more efficiently and avoid the interference and congestion that can affect the network performance. It can also save battery life for the devices by using the TWT feature, which can extend the battery life by up to 67%.
Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E advantages
Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E share many advantages that make them superior to the previous Wi-Fi standards. Some of these advantages are:
- 9.6 Gbps across multiple channels: The bandwidth of Wi-Fi 6 is much wider than Wi-Fi 5, which has 3.5 Gbps. This means that Wi-Fi 6 can transfer more data in the same amount of time. Wi-Fi 6E adds even more bandwidth by using the 6 GHz band, which has 1,200 MHz of spectrum.
- Transmission to multiple devices in the same window: This might seem like a no-brainer, but in previous Wi-Fi versions, different devices had to wait in turn to receive packets over Wi-Fi. The new Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology allows multiple devices to receive packets simultaneously over Wi-Fi in one transmission window. This technology significantly improves the efficiency and speed of data transmission.
- Lower latency: Wi-Fi 6 has up to 75% lower latency compared to Wi-Fi 5, and this can be crucial for gamers and people who need the lowest latency possible without using wired communication. This is achieved in Wi-Fi 6 by implementing various techniques, such as the aforementioned OFDMA and Overlapping Basic Service Sets (OBSS).
The latter means that the Wi-Fi router won’t listen to a channel prior to transferring data in order to “see” if there is noise on that channel. Wi-Fi 6 allows for routers to cleverly mark networks and channels with “colors,” and if a certain color is associated with a known network, the router doesn’t need to wait and check the noise before initiating the transmission.
- Beamforming: This sounds straight out of a sci-fi movie, right? It’s a rather simple and clever technology that allows Wi-Fi 6 routers to pinpoint the position of other devices and send a focused beam of information in that direction instead of transmitting in all directions. This technique not only allows for faster data transfers but also increases the efficiency of the system.
How can you use Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E is compatible with Wi-Fi 6, which means that you can use Wi-Fi 6E devices on Wi-Fi 6 networks and vice versa. However, to enjoy the full benefits of Wi-Fi 6E, you need both a Wi-Fi 6E router and a Wi-Fi 6E device. These devices are expected to become more widely available in the market in 2021 and beyond.
Some of the devices that support Wi-Fi 6E include:
- Routers: Some of the routers that support Wi-Fi 6E are the Asus ROG Rapture GT-AXE11000, the Netgear Nighthawk RAXE500, the Linksys AXE8400, and the TP-Link Archer AX96.
- Smartphones: Some of the smartphones that support Wi-Fi 6E are the Samsung Galaxy S21, the Samsung Galaxy Note 20, the OnePlus 9, and the Xiaomi Mi 11.
- Laptops: Some of the laptops that support Wi-Fi 6E are the Dell XPS 13, the HP Spectre x360, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Nano, and the Asus ZenBook Pro Duo.
- Other devices: Some of the other devices that support Wi-Fi 6E are the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7, the Apple TV 4K, the Sony PlayStation 5, and the Microsoft Xbox Series X.
Do I really need Wi-Fi 6E?
This is a tough question. For most people, Wi-Fi 5 speeds and bandwidth would suffice, but if you want to be at the forefront of technology, you should get the latest and greatest. This is especially important if you have a lot of wirelessly connected devices and need high transfer speeds and low latency.
Wi-Fi 6E can also enable new possibilities and innovations that were not possible before, such as immersive virtual reality, cloud gaming, 8K streaming, and more. Wi-Fi 6E can also improve the security and privacy of your wireless network by using the latest encryption and authentication protocols.
If you are looking for a way to upgrade your wireless network and enjoy the best Wi-Fi performance, you should consider getting Wi-Fi 6E devices as soon as they are available. You will not regret it.
Conclusion
Wi-Fi 6E is the future of wireless connectivity. It offers faster speeds, lower latency, more capacity, and better efficiency than ever before. It can enhance the user experience and the business productivity for a wide range of applications and use cases. It can also enable new possibilities and innovations that were not possible before.
If you are looking for a way to upgrade your wireless network and enjoy the best Wi-Fi performance, you should consider getting Wi-Fi 6E devices as soon as they are available. You will not regret it.