Wi-Fi has come a long way since its inception in the late 1990s. What started as a way for devices to connect wirelessly indoors has evolved into a crucial technology that billions of people and devices depend on daily. But with the rapid evolution of Wi-Fi standards over the years, it can be confusing trying to understand what the different terminology means.
In this article, we’ll walk you through the progression of Wi-Fi standards and technology to help demystify things. We’ll explain what the different Wi-Fi numbers (generations) deliver and when you may want to upgrade your router or devices to take advantage of new capabilities.
The Origins of Wi-Fi – It Doesn’t Actually Stand for Anything
Wi-Fi doesn’t officially stand for anything, despite assumptions that it means “wireless fidelity.” As Cory Doctorow writes, a founding member of the Wi-Fi Alliance said, “Wi-Fi doesn’t stand for anything.”
Wi-Fi doesn’t stand for anything. It is not an acronym. There is no [deeper] meaning.
The name was created by a branding consultancy in 1999 to establish a catchy and memorable term for the wireless technology.
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The technology itself originated from the IEEE 802.11 standards established in the 1990s to enable wireless local area networking. Over the next two decades, newer IEEE standards (802.11a, b, g, n, ac) brought improvements in speed, range and connectivity.
The first 802.11b standard allowed for 11 Mbps connections, which was blazing fast compared to dial-up internet. As you’ll see, speeds increased exponentially from there to stay ahead of our voracious data appetites.
Wi-Fi Numbers Throughout The Years
The Confusing Standards Transition to Simple Names
The endless string of IEEE standards was confusing for consumers trying to understand the progression. To simplify things, the Wi-Fi Alliance began certifying devices under more intuitive names like Wi-Fi 4, Wi-Fi 5, etc.
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This helped people identify the generation of Wi-Fi without getting lost in the complex specifications. The newer numbered naming convention generally corresponds to the latest IEEE standard at the time:
- Wi-Fi 4 = 802.11n
- Wi-Fi 5 = 802.11ac
- Wi-Fi 6 = 802.11ax
So when you buy a router labeled “Wi-Fi 6”, you can expect it supports the latest 802.11ax standard ratified in 2019. Nice and straightforward.
Wi-Fi 6 and 6E – Faster Speeds for the Modern Digital Home
Wi-Fi 6, based on 802.11ax, brings a number of major enhancements:
- Faster top speeds – up to 10 Gbps theoretical vs 3 Gbps on Wi-Fi 5. Real-world speeds will be lower but still faster than previous gens.
- Handle more devices simultaneously – essential for the average home with over 20 connected devices competing for bandwidth.
- Reduce interference when multiple Wi-Fi networks are in range– using scheduling and contention windows.
- Improve battery life of mobile devices by enabling advanced power-saving modes when idle.
Wi-Fi 6E takes advantage of newly available 6 GHz bands to reduce congestion and enable faster connections. But device support is still limited outside of only the latest phones and laptops.
Altogether, Wi-Fi 6 provides a major upgrade that helps manage busy modern households with tons of bandwidth-hungry devices all fighting for connectivity.
Should You Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6?
Wi-Fi 6 brings meaningful improvements in speed, capacity and overall experience compared to earlier versions. But at this point, Wi-Fi 7 is also on the horizon as the next evolution.
So when should you upgrade your Wi-Fi to take advantage of Wi-Fi 6? Here are a few good times to make the jump:
- Your router is over 3 years old – Typical lifespan of a good router is 3-5 years before technology advancements warrant an upgrade.
- You experience dead zones or buffering – If parts of your home have weak signal or your video streams buffer a lot, Wi-Fi 6 can help with range, capacity and performance.
- You have gigabit fiber internet – To fully utilize fiber, cable and fast broadband connections, you need a robust home wireless network that can keep up.
- You want the latest features – Do you crave having the latest gadgets and technology? Wi-Fi 6 delivers the newest standard with cutting-edge capabilities.
Wi-Fi 6 routers can be purchased for under Ksh 15,000 these days, making it an affordable upgrade that will feel like you skipped ahead a generation or two. A mesh system can also blanket your whole home with fast, reliable wireless connectivity.
What Does The Future Hold? – Wi-Fi 7 and Beyond
Wi-Fi 7, based on the new IEEE 802.11be standard, aims to once again double speeds and improve performance. But with the specification still being finalized, Wi-Fi 7 routers and devices have limited availability today at high prices.
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While Wi-Fi 7 will surely push boundaries even further, Wi-Fi 6 already delivers excellent performance for most homes and won’t be obsolete any time soon. We likely won’t see mass adoption of Wi-Fi 7 until the late 2020s.
The Wi-Fi Alliance promises continued progress, saying the best is still yet to come. With internet needs growing every year, faster Wi-Fi standards will help us stay connected. But for now, Wi-Fi 6 offers an outstanding balance of speed, features and affordability to meet the needs of most households.
Conclusion
As Wi-Fi continues to evolve, it may seem difficult to keep pace with the changing standards and terminology. But the switch to simplified naming like Wi-Fi 6 helps cut through the confusion. This latest generation brings meaningful upgrades to handle our modern, device-filled homes.
While Wi-Fi 7 looms on the horizon, Wi-Fi 6 offers outstanding performance at reasonable prices for the mainstream. If your Wi-Fi feels outdated, now is a great time to upgrade and unleash faster speeds to power your connected lifestyle.
