Internet of Things

The Top Benefits of WiFi 6

Whether you are an online gamer playing your favorite video games after work or you are running a lucrative business with hundreds of computers using the internet simultaneously, you can’t afford to have your web experience ruined by slow speeds.

This is where WiFi 6 comes into play. WiFi 6 (also known as 802.11ax) is the newer standard in WiFi technology designed to make wireless networks faster and more reliable.

Wherever there are numerous devices connected to the same internet network, such as public places, smart homes, and corporate companies, WiFi 6 comes in handy.

If the name WiFi 6 has you scratching your head, wondering how you miss out on the first five WiFi standards, have no fear.

The WiFi Alliance that consists of companies that manage the certification process of new WiFi devices, introduced this naming system to make it more straightforward to recognize which WiFi standard your devices support, most of which support the previous WiFi 5 (802.11ac) standard.

Now that we know what WiFi 6 is let’s highlight the top benefits of WiFi 6 to clarify why you need to give it a try.

1. WiFi 5 vs. WiFi 6

In a simple summary, the differences between WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 are that the sixth version offers quicker speeds, more robust performance in overcrowded locations, extended bandwidth to handle even more devices, less latency, improved network efficiency, and better power efficiency for your devices.

The new standard has “multi-user, multiple input, multiple output” (MU-MIMO) technology, allowing WiFi 6 routers to simultaneously hook up to several devices at once instead of connecting to one device, then the next device, and then another one after that.

2. Increased maximum speeds

WiFi 6 can typically get up to maximum speeds of 9.6 Gbps (gigabits per second). This is almost three times faster than WiFi 5, which achieved speeds of 3.5 Gbps.

One device may not use all 9.6 Gbps, but it can be divided between your devices to make them all faster. Keep in mind that you will need a WiFi 6 router and devices that support this higher standard.

What makes WiFi 6 so much faster than even WiFi 5? The reason is that WiFi 6 has a technology called Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) that lets your WiFi transmissions deliver data to numerous devices simultaneously.

OFDMA reduces latency which prevents buffering from happening when someone in your home is streaming a movie while trying to do homework assignments online.

3. Expanded access point capacity to support workplace demands

The Internet of Things (IoT), physical items that have technology embedded in them, are all over the modern workplace.

This could mean that gigantic pieces of factory equipment, mobile devices, security systems, inventory trackers, and cybersecurity scanners are all pulling to be a priority on an internet network.

WiFi 6 is here to handle the demands of online access at work. These days also include using voice over IP (VoIP) and video for real-time communication that can’t afford to have audio and video freezing up during important meetings.

4. Better channel width

Channel bandwidth is an essential factor that affects WiFi speeds. WiFi 6 can use up to 160Mhz wide channels in single access point environments.

WiFi also improves speeds using auto-channel switching between 20, 40, 80, and 160Mhz, which offers the optimal bandwidth needed depending on the environment.

You then have the option to reduce it to 20Mhz or 40Mhz when the demand for network resources suddenly rises across a more significant number of channels that are all working at the same time.

5. WiFi 6 is backward compatible

The 802.11ax standard that we call WiFi 6 and the access points supporting it are backward compatible and can be used with older hardware that only supports the WiFi 5 standard.

But to benefit from all the WiFi 6 improvements, both your router and your devices need to support the new WiFi 6 standard.

With more connected devices than ever in our home and office, the time is now to consider getting rid of your older router and future-proof your WiFi network with the benefits of a WiFi 6 router.

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