Wi-Fi 6E is significantly different from Wi-Fi 6. So far, the new technology is not particularly widespread!
The Standard Wi-Fi 6 was announced in October 2019, and by the beginning of 2020, its support began to appear in new gadgets: in computers, mobile devices, and, of course, routers. From Wi-Fi 5, the technology differs with maximum speed: due to the use of more productive chips and new coding tools, it increased by 40%. Wi-Fi 6 also provided faster connectivity in crowded places and reduced energy consumption. The next step in the development of wireless networks is Wi-Fi 6E.
What is Wi-Fi 6E and how it differs from Wi-Fi 6
In April 2020, the Wi-Fi Alliance, a group of Wi-Fi manufacturers that develops, promotes, and licenses Wi-Fi, adopted a new specification: Wi-Fi 6E. The main innovation that distinguishes the standard from Wi-Fi 6 was the support of the 6GHz frequency range. The basic specification can only work in 2.4 GHz and 5GHz spectrums: the new technology should make data transmission faster and reduce any possible delays and reduce the value of interference from neighbors, at least in theory.
The higher the wireless network you use, the less difficult it is to use Wi-Fi, especially in apartment buildings and large office centers. If the next episode of your favorite series is loaded for too long, the video conference is interrupted now and then, and the service operator claims that everything is in order with the network itself. Most likely, it is the interference. Apparently, your network runs on the same channel as the neighbors, so there is a conflict. However, this usually applies only to networks in the 2.4 GHz spectrum: with 5 GHz, such problems less, and 6 GHz and even more.
Immediately after the presentation of the new specification, the network immediately announced that it is one of the largest innovations in the world of wireless networks since 1989. At first, it seems that the difference between 5 GHz at 6 GHz should not be so noticeable, but it gives 21 additional channels to avoid interference.
What are the advantages of Wi-Fi 6E
High speed. With Wi-Fi 6E, it will be possible to fully unleash the potential of Internet tariffs at a speed of 1 Gbps or more. Yes, today, it is difficult to call public, but in this case, it is still about perspective, not about the current state of affairs. Wi-Fi 5 offers a maximum theoretical data speed of 6.93 gigabits per second; Wi-Fi 6 — 9,6; Wi-Fi 6E — 10,8. The growth is obvious.
A little delay. The Wi-Fi 6E specification provides a minimum request time of less than one millisecond. This is especially true for multiplayer online games and video conferencing, which will soon remain popular.
No interference. After all, the less clutter, the more positive impressions of using the Internet. Yes, today, even with the frequency range of 5 GHz, things are perfect, but 6 GHz is the next comfort level. Most likely, at home, there will be no special increase in this plan because the neighbor’s high-frequency Wi-Fi already does not particularly pass through the mass of walls and does not arrange conflicts. But in shopping and entertainment centers with a large concentration of access points, it can be much more critical. This will open new horizons for modern leisure.
What are the drawbacks of the Wi-Fi 6E specification
A small coating. The shorter the wavelength and the higher the signal frequency, the smaller the maximum coverage. In this case, we can judge even by today’s use of spectrums 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. Even in a relatively small apartment, you can’t fully use only a fast 5GHz, which guarantees fewer interferences just because the coverage area leaves much to be desired. Moreover, the high-frequency signal is extremely negatively affected by walls and other obstacles. Therefore, there is a reason to say that everything will be even worse with a signal at 6 GHz.
Of course, it’s worth understanding that Wi-Fi 6E hardware can only work in the 6GHz range. It should operate in three ranges, including 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. However, without using a minimum wavelength, the benefits of the new specification will not be fully disclosed.
The only way out that will maximize the potential of Wi-Fi 6E is mesh networks. They involve using not one but several access points, which are combined into one Wi-Fi network. In this case, you will avoid restrictions on the range of work.
The cost of the equipment. To date, the equipment with Wi-Fi 6E support is extremely insufficient: moreover, it is still only presented in the maximum price segment. Most likely, little will change during 2021. Moreover, Wi-Fi 6E-enabled devices are unlikely to appear in mass before the end of the year. Therefore, today it isn’t easy to consider the new specification even for the future – only for specific purposes, which Wi-Fi 6 can not cope with.
Regional restrictions. To use the new frequency range, permission from the country’s leadership is required. In the U.S., 6 GHz wi-fi was issued back in April 2020. As of January 2021, it was also received in the UK, the European Union, the UAE, Chile and South Korea.
Today, this frequency range is occupied by fixed radio communications as well as radio-relay lines. Moreover, in the foreseeable future, this spectrum planned to give to the needs of cellular networks of the next-generation – 5G. whether something will change in the foreseeable future – a big question. This is what is obvious – the main drawback of Wi-Fi 6E in the country. So, for now, it will be supplied with gadgets with a disabled spectrum of 6 GHz or with support only basic standard Wi-Fi 6 – at least officially.
