Wi-Fi 6E has just arrived with 6GHz frequencies unleashing new potentials for the networks to help them meet the demands of ever-increasing high-performance connectivity. With the passage of every minute new smart devices are getting common. From door locks to bulb lights smart devices are being introduced and connected. The more devices we add to our home the more bandwidth is being consumed and local Wi-Fi is getting over-crowded. Wi-Fi 6E is bought forward to solve this problem. Now let us have a detailed definition of Wi-Fi 6E.
What is Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi certified 6 AKA Wi-Fi 6E is an industry certification program based on the IEEE 802.11ax standard, provides the capacity, efficiency, coverage, and performance required by users today in the most demanding Wi-Fi environment.
Wi-Fi 6E has all of the features of previous Wi-Fi specifications but unlike the previous one it also opens up for devices operating on a 6GHz band2. These new devices will be able to offer the features and capabilities that were lacking before. These include lower latency, high performance, and faster data rates.
Edgar Figueroa, president and CEO of Wi-Fi Alliance comments on Wi-Fi 6E as “6GHz will help address the growing need for Wi-Fi spectrum capacity to ensure Wi-Fi users continue to receive the same great user experience with their devices.”
Wi-Fi 6 + GHz spectrum = Wi-Fi 6E
Wi-Fi 6E adds an additional 1200MHz spectrum to the existing Wi-Fi protocol. The new spectrum allows for more dense networks by increasing the number of Wi-Fi channels that can be used. To keep the 6 GHz devices away from interference with incumbent users of the band FCC has proposed some technical restriction. The overall band is divided into 4 separate bands, each with its own boundary. These separate bands may include 14 80 GHz wide channels, seven 160 GHz wide channels and so on. The following figure provides a better illustration.
What’s new in it?
Wi-Fi 6E comes with many improvements. It comes with the promise of connecting everyone and everything, everywhere. It also enables Wi-Fi devices to operate in most dense and dynamic settings. To sum up there are three main improvements in Wi-Fi 6E. These are:
- More Spectrum
- Higher Throughputs
- Lower Latency
- More Spectrum
Wi-Fi 6E comes with an additional 1.2 GHz spectrum that is twice the size of current bandwidth. In simple terms, it means that now you don’t have to worry about the number of devices connected to a Wi-Fi 6E device. It not only offers additional bandwidth but Wi-Fi 6E also uses this bandwidth more efficiently. In other words, the number of connected devices will no longer affect the speed of your device. This not only enables a user to have a better experience but also opens the gateway for quality live streaming connections. - Higher Throughputs
Wi-Fi 6E provides continuous spectrum blocks by accommodating 14 additional 80 MHz channels and 7 additional 160 MHz channels which are required for high-bandwidth applications using faster data throughputs such as HD video streaming and VR. - Low Latency
Wi-Fi 6E also provides with the ultra-low level of latency. It provides reliable and consistent low-latency connectivity for such applications that cannot afford data delay. This low latency can give way to many new emerging applications that can provide better and instant healthcare and other such services. Low latency connections help in improving load times and avoiding disconnects and other issues.
Are Wi-Fi 6E devices available for sale?
Wi-Fi 6E is soon to be made available by the regulators around the world. Wi-Fi 6E will take some time to get approved and put up for sale. Still, we can expect to see a lot of Wi-Fi 6E devices in 2020. But the main problem is Wi-Fi 6E capable access points which are still being manufactured. New generations of wireless networking can take years to get common, but it does give us something to look forward to.
Conclusion:
Wi-Fi 6E is enabling the enterprise to jump forward with innovations. It had broadened the horizon of connectivity and opened doors to new opportunities. Wi-Fi 6E is a new way of looking at Wi-Fi. This innovation will deliver valuable improvements and contributions to consumers, businesses, and economies. These devices are expected to become available soon with 6 GHz regulatory approvals. However, to get the most Wi-Fi 6E one will require both a Wi-Fi 6E capable network and also a Wi-Fi 6E capable device. This means that you will have to look for Wi-Fi 6E support in the new devices that you are thinking to buy.
