Wi-Fi Standards And Interoperability

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) specification was developed to replace Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) standards in 2019 and is now the standard used by most new Wi-Fi enabled hardware. In this article, we look at the ways in which Wi-Fi 6 differs from Wi-Fi 5 and why these matter for engineering applications.

What Are Wi-Fi Standards?

Wi-Fi standards are sets of specifications defined by the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) that define the operability of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) and compatibility between different wireless devices. These standards, which have evolved in six successive generations, starting with 802.11b in 1999 (now retrospectively called Wi-Fi 1), are also known as the 802.11 family, and include multiple versions designated as a/b/g/n/ac/ax. 

• Wi-Fi 1 (1999) – 802.11b
• Wi-Fi 2 (1999) – 802.11a
• Wi-Fi 3 (2003) – 802.11g
• Wi-Fi 4 (2009) – 802.11n
• Wi-Fi 5 (2014) – 802.11ac
• Wi-Fi 6 (2019) – 802.11ax
• Wi-Fi 6E (2020) – 802.11ax

Each subsequent version has allowed higher speeds, better security, and further range while using less power than its predecessor. Versions of Wi-Fi from 802.11ac extended the operating band from 2.4GHZ to 5GHz to increase available channel bandwidth and Wi-Fi 6E introduced support for the 6GHz band. Wi-Fi standards are also designed to provide backwards compatibility so that older devices can still interoperate with newer access points and devices.

Each upgraded Wi-Fi standard also features changes in modulation and coding schemes as advances in technology allowed for improved networking and performance than previous generations. As hardware technology progresses, so too do Wi-Fi standards: modern routers can now integrate multiple streams of radio signals to form what’s known as a MIMO (multiple input – multiple output) network that allows simultaneous data transfers between multiple devices and machines over several antennas, at faster speeds than the earlier Wi-Fi protocols.

Wi-Fi 5 VS Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6 represents a step change over the capabilities of Wi-Fi 5 and previous versions, the primary difference being in their respective speed and capacity. This sixth generation of Wi-Fi increases bandwidth, data speeds and reduces latency, making it ideal for high performance consumer and commercial/industrial applications. 

The theoretical maximum transmission rate of Wi-Fi 6 is nine times higher than that of Wi-Fi 5, allowing more data to be transferred during each connection cycle, meaning performance can  support applications which require low latency and the highest possible speeds. 

In addition, thanks to its advanced capabilities such as target wake time support (TWT) and Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), WiFi 6 also brings greater performance in crowded spectrum situations while running on less power—making it a better choice for today’s bandwidth-hungry IoT applications.

Wi-Fi 6E adds support for the 6GHz radio band in addition to the previous 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, allowing for more data channels, higher speeds and less interference from other transmitters.

What Next?

Despite some implementation issues with cross-compatibility between vendors when Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E were first introduced, Wi-Fi 6 has subsequently developed into a mature set of standards that allow faster uplink loading speeds, greater power efficiency, and enhanced security like WPA3 compared to previous generations. If you’d like to know more about the implications of Wi-Fi 6 standards for commercial IoT applications, wireless networks, and engineering processes, please feel free to contact our experienced team today on +44 3331 120 000.