As the next generation of wireless connection, Wifi 6 has the potential to provide significantly faster speeds and more efficient connections than current wifi networks. Many believe that it will become the new standard for wireless devices and that having it will be essential for businesses.
However, in order to take advantage of these benefits, your business infrastructure will need to be able to support it. If you’re not sure whether or not your current infrastructure is up to the task, there are several things you can do to find out.
What Is Wifi 6?
Wifi 6 is the latest generation of wifi, and it’s based on the 802.11ax standard. One of the common misconceptions with Wifi 6 is that it is substantially faster than Wi-Fi 5. However, a single Wi-Fi 6 laptop connected to a Wi-Fi 6 router may only be slightly faster than a single Wi-Fi 5 laptop connected to a Wi-Fi 5 router. It’s been designed to provide up to 4 times more capacity and 3 times better battery life than previous generations of wifi.
One of the ways it does this is by using a technique called OFDMA, or Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access. This means it can provide more connections to devices at the same time by splitting each channel down into smaller subchannels.
What Are the Benefits of Wi-fi 6?
This new technology allows a router to communicate with multiple devices at the same time, rather than broadcasting to one device, and then the next, and the next making a more streamlined connection. In addition here are 4 more reasons to get excited about Wifi 6.
- Improved Security: augmented with WPA3 and RF snapshots
- Reduced Latency: deterministic scheduling
- Improved Interface Mitigation: Better QoE
- Greater IoT scale: better 2.4GHz coverage
Picture this: You’re on vacation and want to post your recent pictures on social media, video call and check in with your family back at home, and get your dinner order in before the evening rush. With Wifi 6, you can do all of this with less lag time and better connectivity than ever before.
Does Your Business Support Wi-fi 6?
To determine whether your business infrastructure can support Wifi 6, you will need to take a few key factors into account. These include:
1. Whether your current routers and access points are compatible with Wifi 6. To determine whether your current routers and access points are compatible with Wifi 6, you will need to check the specifications of your devices.
Many newer routers and access points support the 802.11ax standard, which is necessary for Wifi 6. If your devices do not support 802.11ax, they will not be able to take advantage of the benefits of Wifi 6.
2. The number of devices that will need to be connected to the network at the same time.
3. The amount of traffic that is generated by these devices on the network.
4. The types of applications and services that will be used on the network.
5. Whether you will need to upgrade your current cabling.
If you’re not sure about any of these factors, it’s best to consult with an IT professional who can assess your business needs and give you tailored advice.
In general, however, if you want to take advantage of the benefits offered by Wifi 6, you will likely need to upgrade your business infrastructure. This includes both your routers and access points, as well as your cabling.
While this may seem like a significant investment, it’s important to remember that Wifi 6 is still in its early stages. As more devices are released that are compatible with this standard, the demand for Wifi 6 infrastructure will likely increase, making the cost of upgrading more justifiable in the long run.
How Do I Know If My Business Needs to Upgade Hardware?
If you’re looking to future-proof your business network and stay ahead of the competition, investing in Wifi 6 infrastructure now may be a smart move for your business.
If you’re not sure whether or not your current business infrastructure can support Wifi 6, don’t worry! At AIS, we offer in-depth consultations to help businesses determine whether or not their current setup is compatible with the new standard. Contact AIS today to see what are the best options for your business or give us a call directly to talk about how partnering with a managed service provider can help your business grow securely.