In the ever-evolving landscape of wireless technology, staying up-to-date with the latest advancements can give your business a significant competitive edge. Two recent milestones in wireless networking are WiFi 6E vs WiFi 6. While they share some similarities, there are critical differences that can impact your business operations. This blog post will delve into these differences and explain why it’s crucial for your business to utilize the latest industry standards.
What is WiFi 6?
WiFi 6, also known as 802.11ax, is the sixth generation of WiFi technology. It was designed to improve network efficiency, speed, and capacity. Some of its key features include:
- Higher Data Rates: WiFi 6 offers data rates up to 9.6 Gbps, significantly higher than previous generations.
- Increased Capacity: It uses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) to divide a wireless channel into smaller frequency allocations, allowing multiple devices to be served simultaneously.
- Improved Efficiency: With Target Wake Time (TWT), WiFi 6 devices can schedule check-in times with the router, reducing power consumption and enhancing battery life.
- Better Performance in Crowded Areas: WiFi 6 can handle high-density environments better, making it ideal for offices, stadiums, and other crowded venues.
What is WiFi 6E?
WiFi 6E is an extension of WiFi 6, bringing all its benefits to the newly opened 6 GHz frequency band. This extension provides several additional advantages:
- More Spectrum: WiFi 6E introduces up to 1.2 GHz of additional spectrum, significantly reducing congestion and interference.
- Higher Performance: With more channels available, WiFi 6E can offer higher data rates and lower latency, especially in environments with many devices.
- Less Interference: The 6 GHz band is less crowded than the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands used by previous WiFi generations, resulting in cleaner signals and better performance.
- Future-Proofing: As more devices and applications become 6E-compatible, adopting this technology now prepares your business for future demands.
Key Differences Between WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E
- Spectrum Usage: The most significant difference is the spectrum. WiFi 6 operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, while WiFi 6E exclusively uses the 6 GHz band. This additional spectrum translates to less interference and higher performance.
- Channel Availability: WiFi 6E offers more channels, especially in the 160 MHz width, which are scarce in the existing bands. This allows for better performance in high-density environments.
- Latency and Throughput: WiFi 6E’s use of the 6 GHz band can lead to lower latency and higher throughput, essential for applications requiring real-time data, such as video conferencing and augmented reality.
- Device Compatibility: While WiFi 6 is compatible with older devices, WiFi 6E requires new hardware that supports the 6 GHz band. This means upgrading to WiFi 6E may involve additional investment in compatible devices.
Why Your Business Should Upgrade
- Enhanced Performance and Efficiency: Upgrading to WiFi 6E means leveraging the benefits of the new 6 GHz spectrum, resulting in faster speeds, reduced latency, and better overall network performance. For businesses that rely on cloud services, video conferencing, or large data transfers, this can lead to significant productivity gains.
- Future-Proofing Your Network: Technology evolves rapidly, and staying ahead of the curve can give your business a competitive advantage. Adopting WiFi 6E prepares your infrastructure for future advancements and ensures compatibility with the next generation of devices and applications.
- Improved User Experience: With the increased capacity and efficiency of WiFi 6E, your employees and customers will experience smoother, more reliable connections. This is particularly important in high-density environments like office buildings or retail spaces where numerous devices are connected simultaneously.
- Security Enhancements: Both WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E come with WPA3, the latest WiFi security protocol, which offers enhanced security features compared to WPA2. This ensures your business network is more secure against potential threats.
Conclusion
Investing in the latest wireless technology, like WiFi 6E, is more than just staying current; it’s about future-proofing your business, enhancing productivity, and providing a better user experience. The differences between WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E may seem subtle, but the impact on your business operations can be profound. As technology continues to advance, ensuring your business leverages the latest industry standards will keep you ahead of the curve, ready to meet the demands of the future.
In conclusion, while WiFi 6 offers significant improvements over its predecessors, WiFi 6E takes these advancements to the next level with its utilization of the 6 GHz band. Upgrading to WiFi 6E can provide your business with enhanced performance, efficiency, and security, positioning you for success in an increasingly connected world. Now you know the difference between WiFi 6E vs WiFi 6.
ATYXIT is a security-first Business IT Solutions Provider. We excel in supporting and evolving company networks. Our technical support, technology consulting, project management, cyber security and IT strategy services make us the ideal IT resource for local small and medium sized businesses.
Reach out today if you need any assistance with your business technology!