Get ready – Wi-Fi 6E is approaching fast!

17 January 2020

We simply can’t get enough of Wi-Fi 6. To such extent, in fact, that Wi-Fi Alliance® is officially introducing Wi-Fi 6E – a new terminology to distinguish forthcoming Wi-Fi 6 devices capable of 6 GHz operation, an important portion of unlicensed spectrum that may soon be made available by regulators around the world. And Extreme is on board!

Wi-Fi 6E brings a common industry name to identify devices that will offer the features and functionality of Wi-Fi 6 – including higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates – extended into the 6 GHz band. Utilizing this additional spectrum capacity is going to help deliver continuous Wi-Fi innovation and valuable contributions to consumers, businesses and economies.

Wi-Fi has been recognized as a foundational technology for the Internet of Things. 6 GHz is well suited to facilitate Wi-Fi’s continued growth in bringing communication networks to underserved areas, and contributing strongly to global economies due to its adjacency to 5 GHz where Wi-Fi already operates, greater availability of wider channel sizes, and accessibility to clear spectrum with less interference from legacy Wi-Fi 4 or Wi-Fi 5 devices.

6 GHz will help address the growing need for Wi-Fi spectrum capacity to ensure Wi-Fi users continue to receive the same great user experience with their devices. Wi-Fi Alliance is introducing Wi-Fi 6E now to ensure the industry aligns on common terminology, allowing Wi-Fi users to identify devices that support 6 GHz operation as the spectrum becomes available.

Edgar Figueroa, president and CEO, Wi-Fi Alliance

Extreme is on board!

6 GHz addresses Wi-Fi spectrum shortage by providing contiguous spectrum blocks to accommodate 14 additional 80 MHz channels and 7 additional 160 MHz channels which are needed for high-bandwidth applications that require faster data throughput such as high-definition video streaming and virtual reality. Wi-Fi 6E devices will leverage wider channels and additional capacity to deliver greater network performance and support more Wi-Fi users at once, even in very dense and congested environments.

Once 6 GHz is made available by regulators, the first Wi-Fi devices to use the band will most probably include Wi-Fi 6E consumer access points and smartphones, followed by enterprise-grade access points. Industrial environments are also expected to see strong adoption from Wi-Fi 6E to deliver applications including machine analytics, remote maintenance, or virtual employee training. Wi-Fi 6E will utilize 6 GHz to deliver much anticipated augmented reality and virtual reality (AR/VR) use cases for consumer, enterprise, and industrial environments. As a Wi-Fi Alliance member, Extreme supports 6 GHz technology.

Brand new Wi-Fi spectrum in the 6 GHz range will more than double available Wi-Fi frequencies and have a profound effect on Wi-Fi enabled communications. This additional bandwidth not only enables higher Wi-Fi 6 performance with less congestion, but also delivers sufficient spectrum to effectively deploy 80 MHz or 160 MHz-wide channels, severely restricted at 5 GHz. 6 GHz finally and legitimately provides the higher data rates required to drive virtual and augmented reality forward, giving users and organizations the ability to develop a whole new world of use cases.

Perry Correll, Director of Product Management, Extreme Networks

Get ready!

Wi-Fi Alliance is currently working on the development of interoperability testing for Wi-Fi 6E that will deliver benefits to Wi-Fi users once the spectrum is available. The organization continues to support international advocacy efforts to make this additional spectrum available to Wi-Fi users, while also protecting existing devices in the band. Wi-Fi 6E devices are expected to become available quickly following 6 GHz regulatory approvals.

While you’re waiting patiently for the availability of 6 GHz, read our other Wi-Fi 6 related stories!