Welcome WiFi 6

WiFi 6 promises to speed up wireless connections. — RossHelen/IStock.com/AFP

WiFi 6 first landed in 2019, offering a new wireless communication standard promising improved range and higher speeds than WiFi 5. Now, the growing numbers of compatible Internet routers and devices mean many people can start enjoying the benefits of WiFi 6 at home.

WiFi 6 is another name for Wi-Fi 802.11ax, the new wireless standard succeeding 802.11ac. In theory, it promises to quadruple speeds, reaching a theoretical maximum of 4.8 Gbps. As well as speed, the enhanced range of WiFi 6 also facilitates the simultaneous connection of more devices. The aim is to ensure an optimal wireless connection at a time when fibre optic broadband and new uses (video streaming, virtual reality, etc.) are becoming more commonplace each day. Plus, WiFi 6 should make a difference in busy public places or shared spaces (airports, railway stations, open-plan offices, shopping malls).