The internet has become a core component in modern households. In the olden days, for any home to run properly, a water supply, a metered electric connection and LPG cylinders were extremely important. And now, a broadband connection has been added to that list. You will certainly need a WiFi connection for almost everything including work-from-home needs, studying, and watching movies on OTT. Having a steadfast internet connection also allows you to play games online, attend video calls, and more. The WiFi technologies itself have evolved quite a bit in recent years. This article talks about WiFi 6, the latest WiFi technology along with its features and benefits!
Buy Airtel Broadband with exciting benefits!
Read more: What is AirFiber technology and how does it work?
What is WiFi 6?: Decoding The Basics
To handle multiple online activities simultaneously, you need a high-speed WiFi connection. WiFi 6 is the next generation of Wi-Fi technology. A WiFi 6 router does the same job which is connecting multiple devices to the internet wirelessly. However, it does so at a much faster rate.
Furthermore, WiFi 6 is a much more efficient network than Wi-Fi 5. Advanced technologies are integrated with the WiFi 6 router that make it much better than older WiFi technologies.
What is the highest speed that I can get on WiFi 6?
The highest WiFi 6 speed is 9.6 Gbps. This stands at almost 3x more than WiFi 5 that comes with a maximum speed of 3.5 Gbps. However, these speeds are not realistic.
Both the WiFi speeds above are maximum speeds that can only be attained in an ideal world. Real-world WiFi speeds are less than the maximum and even then, one would seldom require such a massive internet speed.
The good news is that theoretically, a WiFi 6 router can reach much higher speeds than its earlier versions. This does not mean that all of the 9.6 Gbps speed has to reach a single smartphone or a PC. Instead, the same speed can be divided across a variety of smart devices and each one can access the internet faster.
Read more: How is fibre optic internet installed at home?
What are the features of WiFi 6?
Here are some of the key features of WiFi6:
-
As already mentioned above, WiFi 6 provides significantly faster speeds than WiFi 5. Each device connected to a WiFi 6 router can experience a 40% speed boost.
-
Internet latency was a big issue with previous WiFi technologies. This has now been fixed with WiFi6, which reduces latency by up to 75%. Lag-free online gaming and smooth game-play are now possible.
-
WiFi 6 routers have the capability to handle a lot of network burden. So, they are ideal for airports, offices, or stadiums where the demand for high-speed internet is quite high.
-
Get better battery performance out of your devices. WiFi 6 speed is not only faster but it also comes with intelligent battery consumption features. Research shows that devices connected to WiFi6 have lesser battery drainage as compared to previous generations of WiFi. This is aided by the technology that is called Target Wake Time (TWT).
-
WiFi-6 is also more secure than ever, with the help of WPA3. This technology makes it difficult for hackers to access your WiFi connection.
We all have been waiting for a revolutionary change in WiFi that makes it faster and much better than before. WiFi-6 brings in that revolution by ticking the right boxes.
Read more: How to boost internet speed on your Android phone?
How can I get a WiFi 6 device for my home?
Getting your next WiFi 6 router or device for home or even the workplace is now easy. Airtel has just launched its new WiFi router, known as the Airtel Xstream AirFiber. Here are all the benefits of the AirFiber router:
-
The AirFiber router is completely wireless and works with the help of Airtel’s 5G Plus network.
-
This device can be self-installed and provides seamless WiFi connection to multiple devices at the same time.
-
AirFiber comes equipped with WiFi 6 technology so that you get the best internet speeds and improved connections.
-
You can easily manage all the settings of your AirFiber router with the Airtel Xstream AirFiber app.
-
AirFiber users will get the WiFi 6 router in India with benefits including better security, lower battery usage, wider range, and more.
-
Get the Airtel Xstream AirFiber router and experience the next generation of WiFi technology right in your home!
Difference Between WiFi 6 and Previous WiFi Technologies
WiFi6 is a lot different when it comes to its range, speed, and other features when we compare it to previous WiFi technologies. For convenience sake, let’s compare it with WiFi 6. The detailed comparison between these two WiFi technologies has been given below:
Features |
WiFi 6 |
WiFi 5 |
Speed |
You can get up to 9.6 Gbps speed with WiFi6 under ideal circumstances. |
Though WiFi 5 could provide speeds up to 6.9 Gbps, it normally peaks up to 3.5 Gbps in ideal conditions. |
Frequency Channel |
WiFi 6 uses both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands to provide a much reliable and consistent performance. |
WiFi 5 uses the 5 GHz frequency channel which is designed for faster data transfers. |
MU-MIMO (Multiple Users – Multiple Input Multiple Output) |
WiFi 6 comes with both uplink and downlink MU-MIMO ability. So, it offers much more seamless data transmission than WiFi 5. |
MU-MIMO was first introduced in WiFi 5 which basically allows multiple digital devices to transmit data simultaneously to the router. WiFi 5 comes only with downlink MU-MIMO. |
QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) |
QAM is a technology that enhances bandwidth and supports faster transfer of digital data. WIFI 6 comes with 1024 QAM which is four times greater than WiFi 5’s 256 QAM. |
WiFi 5 comes with 256 QAM which does not use this technology as effectively as WIFI-6’s 1024 QAM. |
AP Spatial Streams |
Spatial streaming refers to the transmission method used to release coded data signals from digital devices. WIFI-6 supports eight spatial streams consistently. |
WiFi 5 supports only 4 spatial streams and can support 8 streams only in ideal conditions. |
Takeaway
WiFi 6 is known for its dependable performance and higher data speeds. However, newer WiFi technologies are already being developed and will be available in the coming days. Getting a WiFi 6 router is quite easy and devices that support this technology are also available easily these days. As an internet user, focus on getting high-speed broadband that supports the higher internet capabilities offered by WiFi 6. Airtel broadband equipped with Fibernet technology offers higher data speeds and comes with sufficient data. Surf through their plans and choose one that suits your requirements!
FAQ Section
-
How to get WiFi 6 for older devices?
A1: Your older laptops, smartphones, and other digital devices do not support WiFi 6 technology. So, though a WiFi 6 router will be compatible with these devices, it won’t help you avail all the benefits and features offered by WiFi-6 technology. Upgrade your devices or replace them with new ones that support WiFi 6.
-
Which WiFi technologies are functional these days?
A2: Both WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 technologies are functional as WiFi devices supporting them are still being released. WiFi 6 which was launched in 2019 is still the widely used WiFi technology.
-
Is WiFi 6 router ideal for gaming?
A3: Yes, WiFi 6 router is ideal for gaming as it offers 75% less latency as compared to the previous WiFi technologies.
-
Is WiFi 7 available in India?
A4: Yes, WiFi 7 routers are available in India but it’s quite expensive. Also, using WiFi 6 makes sense because it is affordable, still very much relevant, and in use.