WiFi 6: The Foundation of Better WiFi
WiFi 6 addresses the proliferation of devices in homes by providing significant technological updates compared to previous WiFi standards. CSPs can benefit from WiFi 6 by addressing overall congested WiFi network issues, negative customer experiences like choppy video calls and slow download speeds, and future-proofing their networks. Let’s call this a good start.
What Makes WiFi 6E Even Better?
But what if you need even further improvements in WiFi capacity, performance, and efficiency? That’s where WiFi 6E comes in. WiFi 6E is the latest evolution in WiFi technology and is designed to provide even further improvements by providing access to the dedicated 6GHz frequency band. This allows for faster speeds, less interference, and a more reliable connection, making it ideal for high-bandwidth applications like 8K video streaming, virtual reality, and augmented reality.
Should you Deploy WiFi 6E?
When considering whether to deploy WiFi 6 or WiFi 6E, CSPs should take into account several factors, including bandwidth requirements, number of devices and users, future-proofing, adoption rates, and customer demand. WiFi 6E offers higher throughput and lower latency than previous WiFi standards due to the availability of more spectrum in the 6GHz frequency band, making it especially beneficial for the highest-bandwidth applications. It can also support more
devices and users simultaneously than previous standards, making it quite promising for high-density environments. However, as a newer technology, not all devices support WiFi 6E yet, and CSPs should evaluate customer demand and have a clear plan to educate their customers about the benefits of the technology. On the other hand, the adoption rate of WiFi 6 is currently strong, with more than 338 million WiFi 6 devices shipped worldwide in 2020.
Final Thoughts on WiFi 6 and 6E for Enhanced Connectivity
Ultimately, CSPs should deploy WiFi 6 when they need to address overall congested WiFi network issues and negative customer experiences. With the adoption rate strong, WiFi 6 is here to stay for a while. However, if CSPs need even further improvements in WiFi capacity, performance, and efficiency, they should consider deploying WiFi 6E to access the dedicated 6GHz frequency band and cater to the next generation of connected devices. For many CSPs, the decision may also come down to marketing pricing. We know that, in time, costs go down and previous technologies disappear- adopting the latest and greatest is easy when the price falls to that of the previous generation.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- WiFi 6 uses the latest technology to efficiently share a data connection across a large number of devices, while WiFi 6E provides even further improvements by accessing the dedicated 6GHz frequency band.
- WiFi 6 has a stronger adoption rate, with over 338 million WiFi 6 devices shipped worldwide in 2020, while the adoption rate of WiFi 6E is currently lower as it is a newer technology.
- CSPs should consider deploying WiFi 6E to future-proof their networks and provide their customers with access to the latest and greatest wireless technology, particularly for high-bandwidth applications like 8K video streaming, virtual reality, and augmented reality.
Comtrend currently has a comprehensive lineup of WiFi 6 Gateways you can explore here. We have also launched a WiFi 6E TriBand Gateway with availability targeted in Q3 2023. TriBand has a higher wireless client density than dual band, as now you have three radios in a device instead of two. If you’d like to sign up for the most up-to-date news on our WiFi 6E TriBand solution then sign up here.
