In theory, when you’re in a wormhole, you don’t go faster than light – you’re just choosing a more efficient route by taking a shortcut through the space. Now, we’re not exactly sure if wormholes actually exist, but we have the next best thing: learn why your network needs Wi-Fi 6 And Wi-Fi 6E!
Since its birth in 1999, Wi-Fi has surely come a long way. Once just a brand name for the wireless local area network (WLAN), these days it’s practically a synonym for the Internet. However, as the Wi-Fi’s popularity has grown, so too have the demands placed on it. Cloud-based applications like high definition video, streaming or bulk file distribution are adding significant strain to the already stretched-thin network bandwidth – especially now, in the era of remote and mobile work.
Ok, but… what is network bandwidth?
Bandwidth describes data transfer rate, indicating the maximum capacity of a communications link to transmit data over a network connection in a given amount of time. Contrary to a common misconception, bandwidth is not exactly a measure of network speed. If anything, it can be compared to the volume of water that can flow through a pipe. The wider the pipe's diameter, the more water can flow through it at one time.
That being said, the problem with bandwidth is not with one user using a service, but rather hundreds or even thousands of users using the service at the very same time. Considering high-bandwidth usage across many more devices than ever before, the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz channels in a traditional Wi-Fi network can get real crowded, real fast!
Increasing bandwidth could help, but ultimately the problem facing current networks is space. There are simply too many devices for the number of channels available to Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5 to handle, resulting in traffic jams that slow down the network for everyone, costing your organization precious time and money.
That is why the next generation of the technology, Wi-Fi 6E, is all about breaking the limits of space available for users and applications.
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Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E: more space for your connectivity needs
In short, Wi-Fi 6E offers the features and functionality of Wi-Fi 6 – including higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates – extended into the 6 GHz band. Not only is the 6 GHz band open for the first time ever, but the EU opened 500 MHz of frequency bandwidth. It means that 24 new 20 MHz channels, 12 new 40 MHz channels, and six new 80 MHz channels are available for Wi-Fi 6E communications in Europe!
This means your organization not only can move critical operations to a pristine, high-throughput band, but also off-load the existing wireless network traffic using a broader distribution. In some cases this is critical: healthcare and manufacturing operations, for example, still heavily rely on specialized devices that operate at 2.4 GHz.
Driving efficiencies without compromising continuity of service is one thing, but the other important benefit of the backwards compatibility is that it protects your capital expenditure. While the adoption of Wi-Fi 6 and 6E will inevitably lead to the introduction of new compatible devices, legacy devices will still be able to run on your Wi-Fi 6 access points, so your previous investments in applications or devices that rely on powerful, reliable Wi-Fi connections won’t go to waste!
Explore what’s possible with Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E!
Captain Kirk, the commander of the USS Enterprise from the legendary Star Trek series, declared its purpose: to boldly go where no man has gone before.
If Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E seem to you like an exciting new frontier for your business and you’d like to explore the technology in more (but not too much) detail, consider checking out our free, highly on demand e-book titled ‘Wi-Fi 6 & 6E For Dummies’!