Understanding Wi-Fi 6E technology and the future of wireless connectivity

Wi-Fi 6, otherwise known as 802.11ax Wi-Fi, and AX Wi-Fi, is the next-generation industry standard for Wi-Fi technology. Its systems and proliferation will be dependent on the interconnectivity provided by cable assemblies and radio frequency (RF) connectors such as those produced by Amphenol. These solutions will be critical to facilitating the speed and network reliability of Wi-Fi 6 as it makes its way to the global market. RF interconnect are integral to the success of wireless networks that rely on seamless internal processes and connectivity. As such, it's critical to understand what Wi-Fi 6 poses to provide consumers and businesses alike.

• Wi-Fi 6 utilizes 1024 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) alongside a 160 MHz channel to provide speeds up to 9.6 Gbps, compared to the 6.9 Gbps of the traditional 256-QAM 802.11ac
• The 1024-QAM technology allows each symbol to carry 10 bits rather than 8, a 25% improvement over traditional 802.11ac 256-QAM networks

For the consumer, this will translate to seamless streaming and utilization of internet-enabled services. Wi-Fi 6 also provides four times more capacity for devices on the network through: 

• 8x8 uplink/downlink 
• MU-MIMO (multi-user multiple-input multiple-output) 
• OFDMA (orthogonal frequency-division multiple access)
• Basic Service Set (BSS) coloring which allows for continuous reliability in congested networks.
• Wi-Fi 6 also utilizes a 4x longer Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) symbol (thus creating 4x more sub-carriers) which allows for an 11% speed increase and improved network coverage.

Additionally, the 160 MHz channel width (up from 80 MHz in 802.11ac) allows for a faster connection between your device and its router. This in turn reduces the potential for lag or buffering whilst streaming. 

While the previous 802.11ac channel was unable to utilize OFDMA technology, Wi-Fi 6 leverages this capability to utilize routers to transfer packets and data to multiple devices simultaneously without congestion or slowing down the overall network. This translates to faster uploads and downloads for the user. The 8x8 MU-MIMO capability of Wi-Fi 6 builds off of this by allowing connected users to leverage up to 8 upload or download streams with no noticeable decrease in the quality of bandwidth.

Market Potential for Wi-Fi 6

The market potential for Wi-Fi 6 is vast in regards to both geographic reach and capital gains. 

• With a 2022 market size of $11.59 billion and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.9% between 2022-2027, ultimately reaching upwards of $26.2 billion (31% of the global market revenue was accounted for by Asia Pacific in 2022). 
• The main driving market force behind this growth is the increased number of internet users, which ultimately requires networks that can sustain speed and reliability despite congested environments. 
• Additionally, as the overall quality of streamed media improves (such as in resolution), more will be demanded of Wi-Fi networks in regards to their ability to facilitate this

The main restraint in regards to market growth is co-channel interference and contention loss. Contention loss is the poor network performance that occurs when multiple clients join a singular access point. Co-channel interference occurs when multiple access points using the same radio frequency (RF) channel affect each other's network performance. 

These issues are prevalent in regions with thoroughly developed Wi-Fi infrastructure, such as Asia Pacific, North America, and Europe. Integrating further Wi-Fi networks within these regions may exacerbate these issues and has caused concern in regards to the proliferation of new access points and the distribution of users along them.

Wi-Fi 6 versus Wi-Fi 6e, what’s the difference?

The main difference between standard Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6 extension (6E)  is that 6E creates a proverbial “fast lane” for devices that are capable of utilizing it, which results in overall lower latency and faster speeds. Wi-Fi 6 enabled devices are able to rapidly transit data within the 6 GHz band while benefiting from the fact that the network itself isn’t cluttered by legacy devices. On the organizational level Wi-Fi 6E provides enhanced security measures that allow for secure network transmissions. The Wi-Fi Alliance has mandated that all Wi-Fi 6E devices be protected by Wi-Fi Protected Access 3 (WPA3), which ensures universal security across the access points under the classification of the network.

Applications in the Industrial Setting

As Wi-Fi 6 provides significant improvements in both speed, reliability, and security, its prospect as an asset in the realm of industrial applications is significant. In the arena of supply chains and manufacturing, Wi-Fi 6 enables increased transparency and security by solidifying the capabilities for remote complex maintenance and diagnostics. Wi-Fi 6’s utilization of Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) enables multiple users to access the channel simultaneously with no decrease to performance. In this industrial setting, this would translate to multiple users with varying bandwidth needs being able to leverage the full speed of a Wi-Fi 6 access point (AP) at the same time. 

Industrial settings will also benefit from Wi-Fi 6’s transmission technique: beamforming. While the previous generation of network technology also utilized beamforming, Wi-Fi 6 provides a twofold increase in the number of streams available for simultaneous user access (from four to eight). In an industrial setting, this would allow for a significant increase in the overall bandwidth afforded to users. 

What’s next 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). Its being developed with promises of major improvements over Wi-Fi 6 and 6E, offering speeds up to four times faster. It works across all three industry-standard bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz) to fully utilize spectrum resources. While Wi-Fi 6 was built in response to the growing number of devices in the world, Wi-Fi 7's goal is to deliver astounding speeds for every device with greater efficiency. It also includes clever advances to reduce latency, increase capacity and boost stability and efficiency. 

What benefits will Wi-Fi 7 bring?

• Higher Data Rates: Wi-Fi 7 aims to provide even higher data rates compared to Wi-Fi 6, catering to the increasing demand for faster and more reliable wireless connections. This is achieved through advanced modulation and encoding techniques.
• Improved Spectral Efficiency: Wi-Fi 7 is designed to make more efficient use of the available radio spectrum, enabling better performance in environments with high device density.
• 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 feature.
• Increased Channel Bandwidth: Wi-Fi 7 supports wider channel bandwidths, allowing for faster data transmission. With Wi-Fi 6E, they can be as wide as 160 MHz. Wi-Fi 7 supports channels that are up to 320 MHz. This could lead to improved performance, particularly in scenarios where higher data rates are crucial.
• Higher QAM: Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) is a method to transmit and receive data in radio-frequency waves. The higher it is, the more information can be included. Wi-Fi 7 supports 4K-QAM whereas Wi-Fi 6 supported 1024-QAM and Wi-Fi 5 was even further limited to 256-QAM.
• Better Reliability: The new standard is likely to include mechanisms to mitigate interference and ensure more consistent 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.
• Security Enhancements: Wi-Fi 7 is likely to include updated security features to address evolving cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.
• IoT and Smart Device Support: Wi-Fi 7 is expected to provide improved support for the growing number of Internet of Things (IoT) devices, which often have unique connectivity requirements.
• Energy Efficiency: While not as pronounced as in cellular technologies, Wi-Fi 7 might introduce energy-saving features to extend device battery life in certain scenarios.

What’s different from the previous generations?

MLO technology

Wi-Fi 7 will introduce Multi-Link Operation (MLO) technology which allows devices to simultaneously send and receive data over multiple radio bands to create a single aggregated connection. This provides faster throughput performance. 

Market potential for Wi-Fi 7

• The Wi-Fi 7 Market is estimated at USD 1.0 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 24.2 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 57.2% from 2023-2030. 
• The rising adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) is the main driver for the market growth. 
• North America is expected to hold the highest growth rate during the forecast period. 
• High costs of installation and the spectrum congestion present a significant challenge for the Wi-Fi 7 market. 

Applications in different industries

• Business 
• Media and Entertainment
• Smart Home
• Smart City
• Healthcare
• Public Safety
• Educational Institutions

Recent developments

• In December 2022. Rohde & Schwarz and Broadcom collaborated to announce the availability of an automated test solution for Broadcom Wi-Fi 7 chipsets. 
• In January 2023. MediaTek introduced Consumer-Ready Wi-Fi 7 products in product categories, including residential gateways, mesh routers, televisions, streaming devices, and more at CES 2023.
• In March 2023, Lounea partnered with TP-Link to become Finland’s first Wi-Fi 7 operator to offer Wi-Fi 7 standards for home wireless networks. 

Related Amphenol Products

Amphenol RF has developed a number of high-bandwidth interfaces capable of data transfer rates fast enough to handle the next generation of Wi-Fi. New Wi-Fi technology requires connectors and cable assemblies that can carry more data, faster and in a smaller size.

The 2.2-5 and 4.3-10 interfaces are ideal for Wi-Fi applications in the sense that they are lightweight, robust connectors in a smaller design. The legacy 7-16 connector, which is particularly reliable and weather resistant, is the perfect solution designed for wireless infrastructure applications that require durability to withstand harsh environments. TNC, which is available in IP67 waterproof versions, also support the next generation Wi-Fi with better reliability. 

There are also specific products such as HD-EFI and HD-AFI, which are ultra-compact interface designs. Despite their smaller size, these products can support Wi-Fi applications for consistent and reliable connectivity, even in crowded environments.

Lastly, Amphenol RF’s high-performance series SMA, SMP, and SMPM supports wider channel bandwidths, allowing for higher data transmission. 

For a complete solution, RF antennas designed for IoT devices such as smart phones and tablets are available in a variety of external and internal configurations including embedded chip and PCB versions.