Wi-Fi 6E — A New Frontier of Wi-Fi 6

The Wi-Fi Alliance® introduced the new Wi-Fi 6E to distinguish upcoming Wi-Fi 6 devices capable of 6 GHz operation. Wi-Fi 6E offers the features and capabilities of Wi-Fi 6—including OFDMA, 8×8 MU-MIMO, and Long OFDM symbols. Furthermore, a new spectrum—6 GHz—will bring even higher network performance, lower latency, and faster data rates.

Why does Wi-Fi 6E need 6 GHz?

In dense environments or large enterprises, it’s hard to find an 80 MHz or 160 MHz channel free from interference caused by devices on the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequency bands. Because of this, the data speed available on networks becomes restricted. So, channel congestion is particularly problematic when the low number of Wi-Fi channels available today forces many users to share the same bandwidth, creating network congestion.

As the Wi-Fi Alliance notes, 6 GHz addresses this “Wi-Fi spectrum shortage.” Contiguous spectrum blocks accommodate 14 additional 80 MHz channels and 7 additional 160 MHz channels which are quite important for high-bandwidth applications such as high-definition video streaming and virtual reality.

In dense and congested environments, Wi-Fi 6E devices will no longer crowd up 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, which may be already suffering from low data throughput and slow data speeds. More Wi-Fi users will be able to experience smooth network performance at the same time. The Wi-Fi Alliance is working on the development of interoperability testing for Wi-Fi 6E that will deliver benefits to Wi-Fi users once the spectrum is available.

What does Wi-Fi 6E mean for us?

Until now, many companies have already launched Wi-Fi 6 products urging customers to adopt the latest standard. Once 6 GHz is made available by regulators, Wi-Fi 6 will be even more attractive to households.

According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, analysts predict that “the first Wi-Fi devices to use 6 GHz band will include consumer access points and smartphones, followed by enterprise-grade access points.”

With this upgrade, it’s easy to see how a number of demanding applications will become more popular:

• Mobile AR/VR gaming
• Efficient gigabit Wi-Fi in smart homes
• Low latency Wi-Fi calling
• 4K and 8K streaming
• High-speed tethering
• Real-time gaming
• Connectivity in cars

When will Wi-Fi 6E come out?

Wi-Fi 6E devices are expected to become available quickly following 6 GHz regulatory approval and will utilize the additional spectrum capacity to deliver continuous Wi-Fi innovation and valuable contributions to consumers, businesses, and economies.

Related:

Wi-Fi 6: Make Your Wi-Fi Feel Young Again: https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/stories/detail/756

An Introduction to 6 GHz Wi-Fi:  https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/stories/detail/1018