Wi-Fi 6 benefits
Wi-Fi 6 will build on the success of 802.11ac. It will let access points support more clients in dense environments and will provide a better experience for typical wireless LAN networks. It will also provide a more predictable performance for advanced applications such as 4K or 8K video, high-density high-definition collaboration apps, all-wireless offices, and the Internet of Things (IoT). Wi-Fi 6 will drive Wi-Fi toward the future as the growth of wireless continues.
Wi-Fi 6 access points
There are some Wi-Fi 6 access points already on the market, targeted for early adopters and customers who are eager to test the new standard. The access points that are released early will be pre-standard APs because the standard will not yet have been ratified. This means key features that are part of Wi-Fi 6 may not be supported on some of these initial, pre-standard access points. However, when available, some of these access points will be able to become certified through software updates and Wi-Fi 6 features will be supported. This approach is similar to the introduction of prior generations such 802.11ac and 802.11n.
Wi-Fi 6 technology dimensions
- Denser modulation using 1024 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM), enabling a more than 35 percent speed burst.
- Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)-based scheduling to reduce overhead and latency.
- Robust high-efficiency signaling for better operation at a significantly lower Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI).
- Better scheduling and longer device battery life with Target Wake Time (TWT)
Will Wi-Fi 6 be compatible with 802.11ac?
As with every other recent Wi-Fi advance, Wi-Fi 6 will be backward compatible, building on existing technologies and making them more efficient.