Wi-Fi 6E

What is Wi-Fi 6E?

Wi-Fi 6E is the industry name for an extension of the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard. The extension takes advantage of the unlicensed wireless spectrum in the 6 GHz band.

Essentially, Wi-Fi 6E gives Wi-Fi 6 capabilities to a less congested radio band in order to provide faster speeds and lower latency. This makes Wi-Fi 6E especially useful for video conferencing, online gaming, and applications that provide virtual reality (VR) or augmented reality (AR) experiences.

The Wi-Fi Alliance announced certification for Wi-Fi 6E devices early in 2021. Relatively speaking, Wi-Fi 6E adoption has still not reached the tipping point, but it’s rapidly gaining momentum.

Table of Contents Table of Contents

1. What is Wi-Fi 6E?
2. Key Takeaways
3. How Wi-Fi 6E Works
4. What Device Types Support Wi?Fi 6E?
5. Wi-Fi 6E vs. Wi-Fi 4 vs. Wi-Fi 5 & Wi-Fi 6
6. Device Classes Supporting Wi?Fi 6E
7. Wi?Fi 6E Regulatory Status
8. Wi?Fi 6E APs
9. How Will Wi-Fi 6E Influence Daily Life
10. Wi-Fi 6E Use Cases
11. How to Get Wi-Fi 6E
12. Benefits of Wi-Fi 6E
13. The Bottom Line
14. FAQs
15. References

Show Full Guide

Table of Contents

1. What is Wi-Fi 6E?
2. Key Takeaways
3. How Wi-Fi 6E Works
Show Full Guide
4. What Device Types Support Wi?Fi 6E?
5. Wi-Fi 6E vs. Wi-Fi 4 vs. Wi-Fi 5 & Wi-Fi 6
6. Device Classes Supporting Wi?Fi 6E
7. Wi?Fi 6E Regulatory Status
8. Wi?Fi 6E APs
9. How Will Wi-Fi 6E Influence Daily Life
10. Wi-Fi 6E Use Cases
11. How to Get Wi-Fi 6E
12. Benefits of Wi-Fi 6E
13. The Bottom Line
14. FAQs
15. References

How Wi-Fi 6E Works

Wi-Fi 6E takes advantage of available spectrum in the 6 GHz band to provide up to 14 additional 80 MHz channels or seven additional superwide 160 MHz channels in 6 GHz.

The additional channels are particularly beneficial in dense locations where lots of connected devices compete for bandwidth in the same area.

It’s important to note that Wi-Fi 6E is backwards compatible. Older devices can connect to a Wi-Fi 6E router, but unless they have a Wi-Fi 6E-capable adapter, they won’t be able to access channels in the 6 GHz band and take full advantage of 6E’s advantages.

What Device Types Support Wi?Fi 6E?

According to the Wi-Fi Alliance website, Wi-Fi 6E is known to support the following devices:

• Smartphones
• Laptops
• Routers
• Smart TVs
• VR/AR headsets
• IoT edge devices
• Game consoles?
• Range extenders
• USB adaptors
• Mesh Wi-Fi
• PCIe adaptors

To fully take advantage of the extended spectrum Wi-Fi 6E offers, routers should enable WPA3? security and be certified for Wi-Fi 6E by the Wi-Fi Alliance, and display the Wi-Fi 6E logo.

Wi-Fi 6E-capable adapters, which are typically special PCIe cards or USB adapters, can be installed or plugged into an end user’s computing device to take advantage of the newer Wi-Fi 6E capabilities without requiring the replacement of the entire device.

Wi-Fi 6E vs. Wi-Fi 4 vs. Wi-Fi 5 & Wi-Fi 6

Over the years, each version of the Wi-Fi standard has supported advancements in personal and business computing.

Back in 2009, Wi-Fi 4, provided a significant improvement in data rates over its predecessors, and in four years later, Wi-Fi 5 offered more reliable performance. More recently, Wi-Fi 6 introduced OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access) in 2019, and in 2021, an important driver for Wi-Fi 6E adoption is its ability to reduce latency.

Wi-Fi Standards 2009-2021

Device Classes Supporting Wi?Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E supports three different device classes based on power consumption and operational purpose. Each class has varying regulatory requirements.

Wi?Fi 6E Regulatory Status

In 2020, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved the opening of the 6-GHz band for unlicensed use in the United States.

While efforts are underway to standardize Wi-Fi 6E adoption globally, regional differences persist.

Arguably, the biggest problem with the Wi-Fi 6E standard is that some countries already have existing services, like satellite communication, in the 6 GHz band.

Wi?Fi 6E APs

Wi-Fi 6E access points (APs) are typically tri-radio. This means they have dedicated 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz radios and the AP can use any channel combination. This allows the AP to support devices across all three bands simultaneously, and enable greater flexibility in terms of channel allocation and network management.

Essentially, this approach helps reduce radio frequency interference between different bands by allowing devices using the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz bands to operate independently of each other. The separation ensures that devices on one band won’t negatively impact the performance of devices on other bands, regardless of their Wi-Fi generation.

How Will Wi-Fi 6E Influence Daily Life

The 6 GHz band used by Wi-Fi 6E is much less crowded than 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, and 6E’s wider radio frequency (RF) channels offer significantly faster speeds than previous Wi-Fi generations. This means that Wi-Fi 6E can be a game-changer in homes, offices, and public spaces where there are lots of networked devices being used in the same location and high-speed bandwidth is essential.

Wi-Fi 6E Use Cases

Wi-Fi 6E makes it possible for routers to support more devices simultaneously without sacrificing performance. Football Stadiums and Hospitals are just some of the places where 6E adoption has already made a difference.

How to Get Wi-Fi 6E

To get Wi-Fi 6E up and running, you’ll need a certified Wi-Fi 6E router and some Wi-Fi 6E compatible devices. Place your Wi-Fi 6E router in a central location, free from obstructions, to maximize coverage. Wi-Fi 6E has a shorter range than other Wi-Fi bands, so router placement is important.

For larger homes or areas with weak Wi-Fi signals, a wireless mesh network (WMN) with multiple Wi-Fi 6E nodes will provide better coverage and performance.

Should You Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E?

If you experience network congestion or need improved performance for activities like streaming, gaming, and using AR/VR applications, consider upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E. Keep in mind that if you upgrade, you may need to replace older devices with newer, Wi-Fi 6E certified devices or purchase Wi-Fi 6E-capable adapters.

Benefits of Wi-Fi 6E

According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 technology include:

The Bottom Line

Wi-Fi 6E, by definition, extends the capabilities of Wi-Fi 6 into the 6 GHz frequency band. The new band is like adding an express lane on a congested highway. Even devices that don’t support Wi-Fi 6E can benefit because offloading 6E-capable devices to the 6 GHz band reduces congestion in the other bands. This means improved performance for everyone on the network.

FAQs