Wifi Part 4. 802.11ax (WiFi 6 & WiFi 6E) Vs 802.11be (WiFi 7) – What’s the Difference?
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Wifi6 Vs Wifi 6E Vs Wifi 7. 802.11ax Vs 802.11be. Which is Right for You?
Wi-Fi has always been seen as a “black magic” specialty in the IT world. The introduction of Wi-Fi 6, followed by Wi-Fi 6E, and the rapid development of Wi-Fi 7 within 24 months of each other, is sure to confuse those who aren’t versed in the art of wireless technology.
Before delving into Wi-Fi 7, it's essential to take a step back and examine the path that led us here. In the realm of Wi-Fi, no event in 2021 was more thrilling than witnessing the opening of new spectrum (6 GHz) for the first time in over 20 years. To put it into perspective: 802.11 was introduced in 1997, operating within the 2.4 GHz ISM band. Two years later, 802.11a emerged, incorporating the 5 GHz U-NII band.
Although numerous amendments succeeded 802.11a, few were as renowned as the standard PHY rate amendments (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax). The Wi-Fi community celebrated two significant innovations in rapid succession: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) introduced OFDMA, and shortly thereafter, an entirely new spectrum became accessible the 6 GHz band.
The full impact of the 6 GHz band will vary depending on your location; however, regardless of the spectrum released in your area, this is a significant development. As Wi-Fi has surged in popularity and transformed from a 'nice-to-have' to a 'must-have' service. In 2021, the first hardware supporting all three bands 2.4, 5, and 6 GHz was released.
The additional spectrum is a monumental achievement, yet it didn’t take long for Wi-Fi professionals to look forward. The next question that came up was, “What about Wi-Fi 7?”
The best approach to address this question is by examining the numerous disparities between the two protocols, WiFi 6E & WiFi 7. The three most significant differences include changes in: 1) theoretical maximum speed, 2) increased channel width, and 3) QAM.
First, let's consider the speed difference. Wi-Fi 6 boasts a maximum speed of 9.6 Gbps (which, honestly, is quite fast), while Wi-Fi 7 is anticipated to achieve a maximum speed of 46 Gbps. That's 46 Gbps for a single client, reaching speeds that are akin to the "plaid" range on the speedometer.
Next, let's consider the increase in channel widths. When people lack the necessary resources to complete tasks, they often say, “We don’t have enough bandwidth to accomplish that.” Borrowed directly from wireless technology, we now have access to greater bandwidth for transferring more data. The maximum channel bandwidth in the 5 GHz band was 160 MHz, but with the introduction of new spectrum in the 6 GHz band, this is expanding to a channel bandwidth of 320 MHz. For comparison, the entire 2.4 GHz band is only 83 MHz wide, making this increase substantial
Lastly, there's the increase in QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), which is a technique for encoding data on a radio signal. Wi-Fi 6 utilizes 1024-QAM, and Wi-Fi 7 is anticipated to employ 4096-QAM. If TVs can handle 4K resolution, why not Wi-Fi? This new QAM rate, coupled with the 320 MHz wide channel, enables achieving speeds of up to 46 Gbps.
As for similarities, both utilize the 6 GHz band, offer exceptionally fast speeds, and feature wide channels. Additionally, neither has many client devices capable of fully utilizing these advancements. For the average network, it's challenging to surpass the performance of a well-designed Wi-Fi 6 network equipped with quality hardware.
In Wi-Fi, speed is often the primary factor that motivates people to adopt the newest technology, but it comes with a cost. This cost isn’t just measured in dollars spent; it also includes the requirements needed to achieve that impressive speed of 46 Gbps.
Unfortunately, only one person can answer the question, “Do I buy Wi-Fi 6E or wait for Wi-Fi 7?” and it isn’t me. To achieve those crazy-fast rates, many things need to fall into place. In the real world, that’s not always feasible.
The decision of whether to move to the latest and greatest technology hinges on a single question: “What’s your organization’s goal?”
If you're someone who loves staying on the 'bleeding edge' of technology, with no budget constraints, then by all means, go ahead and upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E now. A few more months later, embrace Wi-Fi 7.
However, if you are among the vast majority who strive to optimize their IT budget, then ask yourself this question: “Where are you in the budget cycle?” If this is the year to upgrade the Wi-Fi network and your organization enjoys being a technology leader, then Wi-Fi 6E is the answer. If you prefer a little more stability, opt for the current Wi-Fi 6 technology. If your turn for budget allocation isn’t for another couple of years, then wait for Wi-Fi 7.