Although not a new standard per se, but merely an extension of 802.11ax, Wi-Fi 6E is a leap forward in terms of capacity, availability, and security due to its utilization of the 6 GHz frequency band. This article explores the various use cases of Wi-Fi 6E and the opportunities it offers.
Wi-Fi 6E: A Leap in Available Spectrum
Over the last few years, we have seen significant leaps in Wi-Fi standards and protocols. With the spectrum extension brought by Wi-Fi 6, network administrators have twice the previous bandwidth at their disposal. It allows them to manage high user density environments more efficiently, while meeting strict latency requirements. Specifically, the addition of the 6 GHz band means 14 channels of 80 MHz and another 7 channels of 160 MHz on top of those available via the 5 GHz band—which offers only 6 channels of 80 MHz and 2 channels of 160 MHz. In practice, this means that the release of the 6 GHz band will increase bandwidth by 100% in the 80 MHz spectrum and 300% in the 160 MHz spectrum.
The increase in availability can be explained by the fact that spectrum extension reduces the risk of interference, and Wi-Fi 6E compatible equipment has exclusive access to the 6 GHz band. Other Wi-Fi devices are not supported.
Last but not least, compliance with the Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) security protocol is a mandatory requirement in Wi-Fi 6E networks. WPA3 comes with new, stronger authentication and encryption algorithms, and eliminates several issues not addressed by WPA2. All of these technological additions cover a wide range of working scenarios.
If you want to better understand how Wi-Fi 6E is different from Wi-Fi 6, you can read our article on the subject here.
The Indisputable Potential of WiFi 6E for Manufacturing
Any manufacturing company already using or planning on using Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and sensor networks can take advantage of Wi-Fi 6E’s ability to eliminate the interference risk. The solution is simple: IoT devices are enrolled and used in the 6 GHz band, and the traffic generated by them is completely separate from Wi-Fi 6 users—who use the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands for day-to-day operations. Any updates to IoT devices can be carried out in real-time without the risk of any disruptions, and critical alerts and information can be received in time to take the necessary remedial action—thus reducing the associated damage.
The added security benefit of mandatory WPA3 enables the development of multiple applications in areas with strict security requirements, e.g. the medical or government sector where ensuring data protection and confidentiality is critical.
New Opportunities in Healthcare
In healthcare, it’s not just security that matters. The extended capacity provided by the addition of the 6 GHz band means that health monitoring equipment can communicate vital information in real-time without the risk of congestion and packet transmission delays. Healthcare applications and services with high bandwidth requirements are ideal Wi-Fi 6E candidates. Most common use situations include online transmission of CT scans and X-rays, or remote consultations where minimal latency is essential.
Retail and Education
Retail is another area where Wi-Fi 6E networks and applications will soon become available. This is because the expanded bandwidth capacity and the reduced risk of interference eliminates congestion. If POS devices work at full speed, then customers spend less time waiting in line. Shorter waiting times mean higher customer satisfaction, which in turn translates to better brand reputation, more customers, and more sales.
Education will also benefit from the wider adoption of Wi-Fi 6E. The pandemic turned laptops, tablets, and smartphones into common education tools, but existing Wi-Fi networks are not able to cope with the surge in traffic. By bringing the 6 GHz band into use, the bar can be raised higher—allowing AR/VR and video-streaming applications to be used across an entire classroom without the risk of insufficient available bandwidth.
Conclusion
Wi-Fi 6E is not at all a niche solution, and the scenarios mentioned above are just the tip of the wireless internet iceberg. As more and more devices support Wi-Fi 6E and the adoption of the extended standard grows, a wave of new applications will follow. There are already discussions of its vast potential in the advertising, travel services, and entertainment industries.
