What are the Differences Between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E?The main difference between the standard Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6 Extended (6E) is that 6E opens a well-known “fast lane” for capable devices, enabling lower latency and faster speeds. Devices supporting Wi-Fi 6 can transmit data quickly in the 6 GHz band while benefiting from the lack of interference from traditional devices on the network itself. At the organizational level, Wi-Fi 6E provides enhanced security measures to ensure secure network transmissions. The Wi-Fi Alliance mandates that all Wi-Fi 6E devices must be protected by Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3) to ensure universal security for access points under the network classification.Applications in Industrial Environments:Due to significant improvements in speed, reliability, and security, Wi-Fi 6 has a broad prospect in industrial applications. In the supply chain and manufacturing sectors, Wi-Fi 6 enhances transparency and security by strengthening remote complex maintenance and diagnostics capabilities. Wi-Fi 6 utilizes Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology, allowing multiple users to access the channel simultaneously without degrading performance. In such industrial environments, this means that multiple users with different bandwidth requirements can simultaneously utilize the full speed of Wi-Fi 6 access points (AP).Industrial environments will also benefit from Wi-Fi 6’s transmission technology: beamforming. Previous generations of network technology also employed beamforming, but Wi-Fi 6 doubles the number of data streams available for simultaneous user access (from 4 to 8). In industrial settings, this will significantly increase the overall bandwidth available to users.What is the Next Step for Wi-Fi?Wi-Fi 7, also known as 802.11be, is expected to be the next generation of Wi-Fi technology following Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax). During its development, significant improvements over Wi-Fi 6 and 6E are promised, aiming to quadruple speeds. It will operate across all three industry-standard frequency bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) to fully utilize spectrum resources. Wi-Fi 6 was established to address the growing number of devices globally, while Wi-Fi 7 aims to provide astonishing speeds to each device with greater efficiency. It also includes clever advancements to reduce latency, increase capacity, and improve stability and efficiency.What Advantages Will Wi-Fi 7 Bring?Higher Data Rates: Compared to Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 7 aims to provide higher data transmission rates to meet the growing demand for faster and more reliable wireless connections. This is achieved through advanced modulation and coding techniques.Improved Spectrum Efficiency: Wi-Fi 7 is designed to utilize the available radio spectrum more effectively, resulting in better performance in high-density device environments.Enhanced MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output): MU-MIMO technology allows multiple devices to communicate with the router simultaneously, improving overall network efficiency. Wi-Fi 7 is expected to further refine and enhance this capability.Increased Channel Bandwidth: Wi-Fi 7 supports wider channel bandwidths, allowing for faster data transmission. Wi-Fi 6E has a channel bandwidth of up to 160 MHz. Wi-Fi 7 supports channels of up to 320 MHz. This can enhance performance, especially in scenarios demanding high data transmission rates.Higher QAM: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is a method of transmitting and receiving data over radio waves. The higher the QAM, the more information can be contained. Wi-Fi 7 supports 4K-QAM, while Wi-Fi 6 supports 1024-QAM, and Wi-Fi 5 is further limited to 256-QAM.Better Reliability: The new standard may include mechanisms to reduce interference, ensuring more stable and reliable connections even in crowded wireless environments.Backward Compatibility: Like previous Wi-Fi standards, Wi-Fi 7 is expected to be backward compatible with older Wi-Fi devices, allowing them to connect to Wi-Fi 7 routers, albeit at lower speeds.Enhanced Security: Wi-Fi 7 may include updated security features to address evolving cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.Support for IoT and Smart Devices: Wi-Fi 7 is expected to provide better support for the increasing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which often have unique connectivity requirements.Energy Efficiency: While not as pronounced as in cellular technology, Wi-Fi 7 may introduce energy-saving features that extend device battery life in certain scenarios.How Does It Differ from Previous Generations?Wi-Fi 6Wi-Fi 6EWi-Fi 7Launch Date201920212024 (Expected)IEEE Standard802.11ax802.11ax802.11beMaximum Data Transmission Rate9.6 Gbps9.6 Gbps46 GbpsFrequency Bands2.4 GHz, 5 GHz2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHzChannel Sizes20, 40, 80, 80+80, 160 MHz20, 40, 80, 80+80, 160 MHzUp to 320 MHzModulation1024-QAM OFDMA1024-QAM OFDMA4096-QAM OFDMAMAC//MLO