Wi-Fi
As users, we are always looking for faster internet speeds. Fortunately, internet service providers seem to be pushing themselves when it comes to speedy internet plans at more reasonable prices. With the rising demand for high-speed internet connection, we see big names like RCN internet rolling in the finest internet speeds and customer care services. This has made it possible for us to perform faster-bandwidth demanding activities seamlessly – be it live streaming, the latest multiplayer online gaming, or cloud computing, etc. When it comes to Wi-Fi, there has been an incredible boost in its speed and performance. And the next Wi-Fi generation, Wi-Fi 6, is here! It makes use of additional technologies to bring forth faster and more efficient connectivity to you. Wi-Fi 6 focuses on improving network performance and efficiency by mitigating connectivity issues when multiple devices are connected on the same network.
It makes use of the MU-MIMO and OFDMA technologies for better communication with the devices on the network. Not just higher speed, Wi-Fi 6 also comes with better security. It has a new security protocol, WPA3, which works as a robust shield against hackers. It will not be wrong to say that nowadays we are super-dependent on Wi-Fi for undertaking every online activity and task. Why? Because Wi-Fi networks carry maximum traffic and offer better convenience to the users who are not tied to the connection wire or cable. Therefore, you can roam around the house or outside and still be able to use the internet on the go – all thanks to the Wi-Fi technology with an even fast-tracked Wi-Fi 6 lined up in store for us. Let’s learn more about it below.
Faster Speeds
This latest Wi-Fi offers incredible speeds. This is evident by the fact that using Wi-Fi 6 with a single device lets you experience as much as 40% higher speeds as compared to a Wi-Fi 5 router. This has been made possible by an improved data encoding system to attain a maximum throughput. These radio waves are more data-rich, consisting of more powerful chips, which encode and decode the signals and thus, handle extra work. We have seen that more providers use the 5GHz Wi-Fi to minimize interference issues, whereas, the 2.4GHz proves to be much better when it comes to penetrating concrete objects. Wi-Fi 6 enhances the speed on the 2.4GHz RF networks.
Longer Battery Life
The TWT feature or Target Wake Time of a smartphone, laptop, or any Wi-Fi-enabled device enables it to have longer battery life. Basically, when the access point is communicating with a device, it can instruct the device to set the Wi-Fi radio signal to sleep and wake it up when it’s time for the next data transmission. This is what results in saving the battery life of the Wi-Fi-enabled device or preserve the health of the IoT devices that are Wi-Fi compatible. Wi-Fi 6 comes equipped with this feature.
Smooth Performance in Congested Areas
If you use Wi-Fi on a crowded network that already circulates the traffic of multiple devices at the same time, you are likely to experience lags. Imagine using a public Wi-Fi connection at an airport, restaurant, stadium, or a crowded office. Of course, you can expect a slower connection or even repeated connectivity disruptions.
The new Wi-Fi 6 or 802.11ax makes use of multiple technologies to cope with this issue. It offers an improved average speed to the users that is around four times higher than before, over a crowded network with multiple devices. This is not only true for a public place but also applies to your home network where we often see all members using the wireless network for various online activities via different Wi-Fi-enabled devices simultaneously.
Battles Against Congestion
Wi-Fi 6 combats congestion by mainly dividing the wireless network into many sub-channels. These sub-channels carry data for each device connected to the wireless network. This is done by utilizing the OFDMA or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access technologies. In other words, the Wi-Fi access point can communicate with more devices at the same time.
Buying a New Device
As far as buying a new device is concerned, you can look out for a Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6 Certified logo on it. The Wi-Fi 6 routers are likely to have a WPA3 protocol for a more secure connection. The Wi-Fi 6 has been rolled out by Cisco or Netgear, etc. with the launch of their Wi-Fi 6 routers. The Samsung Galaxy S10 is among the first smartphones to offer Wi-Fi 6 compatibility. Therefore, we can expect the next iPhones, tablets, or laptops, etc. to support Wi-Fi 6 too.
Final Thoughts
Wi-Fi 6 will fast track our Wi-Fi experience as it promises blazing fast speeds, better security, longer battery life, and more efficient performance even in case of congested networks. We can expect all-new generations of smartphones, laptops, and other internet-enabled devices to be Wi-Fi 6 compatible.
