In a previous article, I wrote about what Wi-Fi 6 means and showed the advantages of a router with the 802.11ax standard. From this article you will find out what advantages Wi-Fi 6E offers, an extension of the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) standard.
As mentioned in that article, Wi-Fi 6 uses all of the 2,4GHz and 5GHz bands, just like the older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) standard. The big differentiator between the two standards is the division of a wireless frequency channel into several dedicated channels using the Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technique, which means that each user connected with a Wi-Fi 6 compatible device will benefit from a wide of dedicated bandwidth, thus avoiding network congestion.
Many users confuse the version name of the standard with the wireless bandwidth. Wi-Fi 6 uses the free 2,4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, while the license for the 6 GHz band is still pending. This frequency is currently regulated, and until the US Federal Communications Commission gives its consent for it to be freely used globally, this will not happen. At the moment, there is no router on the market capable of supporting the 6 GHz band. The Wi-Fi Alliance (the organization that manages and develops Wi-Fi) says that Wi-Fi 6 routers that will be able to support the 6 GHz spectrum will be labeled with the Wi-Fi 6E standard.
Update 2024:
In the United States, the 6 GHz band is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The FCC approved the use of the 6 GHz band for license-free Wi-Fi in 2020. This means that any Wi-Fi device that complies with FCC standards can use the 6 GHz band without having to obtain a license from the FCC.
In Europe, the 6 GHz band is regulated by the European Commission. The European Commission approved the use of the 6 GHz band for license-free Wi-Fi in 2021. This means that any Wi-Fi device that complies with European Commission standards can use the 6 GHz band without having to obtain a license from the European Commission .
In Romania, the 6 GHz band is regulated by the National Authority for Communications Administration and Regulation (ANCOM). ANCOM has approved the use of the 6 GHz band for license-free Wi-Fi in 2022. This means that any Wi-Fi device that complies with ANCOM standards can use the 6 GHz band without the need to obtain a license from ANCOM.
- final update.
Related: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) - What is and what devices are compatible with Wi-Fi 6 routers
Content
What advantages does Wi-Fi 6E offer, the 6 GHz 802.11ax band
On the 6 GHz spectrum, there is enough bandwidth for 7 160 MHz channels and 14 40 MHz channels. In addition to the ability to support a number higher number of simultaneous users in highly congested spaces, this wider spectrum increases performance for high-bandwidth applications such as high quality live video streams and virtual reality applications and augmented reality.
Wi-Fi 6E can reach speeds of up to 9,6 Gbps, compared to 9,6 Gbps for Wi-Fi 6, and can support multiple users simultaneously. Wi-Fi 6E also offers lower latency, which is important for applications that require fast response, such as online gaming. This is because the 6 GHz band is less congested than the 2,4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.
Benefits that Wi-Fi 6E can offer
Wi-Fi 6E is ideal for applications that require high bandwidth and low latency. It supports video streaming at 8K resolutions, virtual and augmented reality, online games with advanced graphics and video conferencing. All with speeds of up to 9,6 Gbps and low latency, ideal for applications that require fast response or online gaming.
