As the usage of wireless solutions increases world over, a new spectrum in the 6GHz band for unlicensed use also branded as Wi-Fi 6E (6GHz Wi-Fi)— has been approved. This will be added to the existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands currently used in devices such as smartphones, routers, and IoT device connectivity. The first wave of devices using 6GHz Wi-Fi is expected in the final quarter of 2020.
If you’ve ever had trouble connecting to your Wi-Fi network especially in a place that has many people, there’s a good chance spectrum congestion was the problem. Whenever you have too many devices trying to connect over the same band of frequencies, some devices will start to get dropped. So if you see a long list of nearby Wi-Fi networks in your area, that may be why your connection is getting slower and less reliable. There are simply too many competing signals for your computer to get through and Wi-Fi 6E come in to reduce this congestion.
Wi-Fi 6E will offer not just a new swath of airwaves for routers to use, but a spacious swath that doesn’t require overlapping signals like on some current Wi-Fi channels. The new spectrum has enough room for up to seven maximum-capacity Wi-Fi streams to all be broadcast simultaneously and not interfere with each other — all without using any of the previously available spectrum.
Wi-Fi 6E Explained!
Wi-Fi works by broadcasting over airwaves that are open for anyone to use. Today, it’s working over two bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Now, we’re adding a third band, Wi-Fi 6E or 6GHz Wi-Fi.
The numbers make a difference (2.4GHz travels farther, but 6GHz delivers data faster), but what really matters isn’t the specific frequencies being used, but how large a swath of airwaves is available. And that’s why 6GHz is particularly exciting: this new band quadruples the total space available to traditional Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi 6E has the same theoretical top speed as 5GHz Wi-Fi: 9.6 Gbps, the maximum offered under the Wi-Fi 6 standard, the current version of Wi-Fi.
Of course, don’t expect to get such speeds in real life, but the new airwaves should help bump your speed up. That’s because the limited spectrum available at 5GHz means Wi-Fi signals are often not as large as they could be. At 6GHz, it’s assumed that routers will broadcast at the current maximum allowable channel size, meaning a faster connection.
Devise support
Right now, when you go to buy a new phone or laptop, you might see the label “Wi-Fi 6” on the box. That’s great for now since it means your device supports the latest Wi-Fi standard, which offers more efficient wireless performance.
But “Wi-Fi 6” means your device is still operating on the same old spectrum, so starting later this year, you’ll want to start looking for the label “Wi-Fi 6E.” That stands for “Wi-Fi 6 extended into the 6GHz band.” It’s the (relatively) consumer-friendly name you’ll see on phones, laptops, routers, and other gadgets that support 6GHz Wi-Fi.
All Wi-Fi 6E devices should be compatible with one another and backward compatible with whatever router you already have at home. The important thing to know, though, is that you won’t see the 6GHz benefits until you buy a Wi-Fi 6E router. Chances are, those will be some of the first products to hit the market.
The first wave of devices using 6GHz Wi-Fi is expected in the final quarter of 2020. But deployment should really kick off in early 2021 when the Wi-Fi Alliance begins offering a certifications program for Wi-Fi 6E devices.
