Haynes discusses the introduction of Wi-Fi 6 and how, together with 5G, it will create a seamless, integrated wireless experience.
Most of us have a good understanding of what 5G is by now. Buzz around the fifth-generation wireless technology has reached a fever pitch – and for good reason. It offers significantly greater bandwidth, faster connectivity, and lower latency, enabling it to power a much broader range of digital applications than its predecessors. 5G is ushering in a new wave of business and societal transformation, making it possible to perform edge computing at scale by enabling cellular and other connected devices to run untethered across a much wider geographical range than ever before.
To deliver these benefits, 5G utilizes a greater portion of radio frequencies in the wireless spectrum. Although it uses many of the same frequencies as 4G and LTE, it can also support higher-frequency bands above 5G Hz. In the future, the 5G spectrum will also extend into the millimeter-wave range.
Not the Only New Kid on the Block
5G is not the only wireless revolution taking place, however. In parallel, a new generation of Wi-Fi—including 6 and 6E—has also been launched. Like 5G, these technologies are poised to make a significant impact on our everyday lives.
Wi-Fi 6 was first launched as a dual band technology running at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. In April 2020, the US Federal Communication Commission or FCC (the body that manages the wireless spectrum in the US), announced that it would also open up 1200 MHz of unlicensed spectrum in the 6 GHz range for an extended technology that has become known as Wi-Fi 6E.
As with 5G, the fact that Wi-Fi 6 and 6E can run at higher frequencies with wide bandwidth significantly differentiates them from prior generations of Wi-Fi.