WLAN 6: The innovation in the network standard

The demand for faster and more reliable internet connections is constantly growing. Whether seamless 4K video transmission, mobile gaming or networked smart homes, the demands on our WLAN networks are becoming ever more challenging. This is exactly where the WLAN 6 standard comes into play and promises to revolutionize our wireless connections. If you want to learn more about different network types, read our blog post “Network types decoded: Your comprehensive guide to WAN, LAN, WLAN, VLAN, CAN, GAN, MAN, PAN and VPN”.

WLAN 6 brings far-reaching innovations for wireless networks. In time, however, Wi-Fi 6 will be replaced by the next generation WLAN 7, which represents a significant leap in network performance and speed. In this blog post, we take a look at the technological innovations that set WLAN 6 apart from its predecessors.

The advantages at a glance

• Higher transmission speed: With up to 9.6 Gbit/s transmission speed, WLAN 6 enables seamless handling of continuously growing data volumes and demanding applications that require more bandwidth.
• Reduced delay: WLAN 6 reduces latency times by up to 75% thanks to more efficient processing, enabling real-time applications without delays.
• Energy consumption: The Target Wake Time (TWT) function enables compatible devices to coordinate their communication times more precisely with the access point. This helps to reduce unnecessary periods of activity. However, actual energy consumption and the potential extension of battery life depend on the device, the implementation and usage patterns.
• Improved performance and high bandwidth: OFDMA enables a more targeted allocation of radio resources across multiple end devices and can therefore improve the utilisation of the radio channel, particularly when many devices are connected simultaneously.
• Stability and reliability: WLAN 6 offers a more reliable network connection, especially for demanding applications such as high-resolution streaming and the Internet of Things.

WLAN 6-compatible devices

Technological innovation behind WLAN 6

The WLAN 6 generation brings advanced methods to optimize communication with a large number of devices simultaneously and to manage data traffic more effectively:

Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA):

• Frequency splitting for multiple access
• Splits radio channels into smaller carrier frequencies for parallel data transmission to multiple receivers
• Enables WLAN 6 routers to send different signals in the same time window
• It enables a more targeted use of available radio resources and can therefore reduce latency, particularly in environments with high network utilisation.

Basic-Service-Set Coloring (BSS Coloring):

• Method for identifying overlapping basic service sets (OBSS)
• Radio access points identify networks with a unique “color”
• Detects radio traffic from other networks, but ignores it if the “color” is different
• Improves reliability and reduces network congestion

Beamforming:

• Effective beamforming in WLAN 6 compared to previous generations - Achieves higher speeds
• Directs data beams specifically to the requesting device instead of omnidirectional transmission

Target Wake Time (TWT):

• Schedule access points Communication window for each device: improves scheduling
• Coordinates the communication times of compatible devices, thereby reducing unnecessary periods of activity. Under certain conditions, this can also reduce the energy consumption of the devices.

Multiple User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO):

• Parallel use of several spatially separated data streams for simultaneous communication with various devices
• Increased bandwidth, reliability and allows scalable network growth

WPA3 (WLAN Protected Access):

• Security protocol; successor to WPA2
• Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) makes password cracking more difficult
• Stronger encryption of passwords for more security | For additional security in your company, find out more in our article “IT security in companies: Importance and solutions”

In summary, WLAN 6 uses innovative technologies to address issues such as network bottlenecks, delays and limited bandwidth. This enables smooth operation in environments with many networked devices. The new features enable a more targeted use of available wireless resources and can support faster and more reliable connections, particularly when many devices are connected simultaneously.

Possible applications of WLAN 6

Private environments

• Ideal choice for private households with a large number of simultaneously used networked devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptops or smart TVs.

Business environments

• In office complexes and corporate environments, WLAN 6 enables the connection of a large number of employee devices.
• Ensures robust wireless connectivity for productivity applications.

Public space

• WLAN 6 is ideal for public areas such as airports, train stations and shopping centers.
• It provides visitors and customers with fast, reliable Internet access.

Education sector

• Schools, universities and educational institutions benefit from the stable connectivity for teaching and learning scenarios.

Healthcare

• In the healthcare sector, WLAN 6 provides a resilient wireless network for medical devices, patient monitoring and digital files.

Events

• At conferences, trade fairs, concerts, etc., WLAN 6 provides powerful connectivity for numerous participants and devices.

Modern fields of application

• WLAN 6 bietet die Leistung für 4K/8K-Video, HD-Collaboration in hochfrequentierten Umgebungen.

The new standard offers advantages in terms of the utilisation of available wireless resources, as well as scalability and network performance, particularly when many clients are connected simultaneously. Both private and business users benefit from the significantly increased speed.

Challenges and possible limitations

Signal range and barriers

• Older WLAN generations suffered from interference from walls, pipes, underfloor heating, etc.
• WLAN 6 operates on the same frequencies, so this physical signal attenuation remains.
• Although the newly added 6 GHz band of WLAN 6E enables higher data rates, it has a much shorter range compared to 2.4 and 5 GHz. It should therefore primarily be used in the same room.

Susceptibility to faults

• Electromagnetic interference from machines can affect the 2.4/5 GHz frequencies used for WLAN.
• Like previous standards, WLAN 6 has functions for error correction and packet repetition. There are no groundbreaking innovations here.

Network management and security

• Supporting a potentially rapidly increasing number of mobile clients places new demands on the monitoring, administration, security and reliability of the network infrastructure.
• Appropriate tools for these requirements are becoming increasingly important.

Compatibility and cost aspects

• Compatibility issues and investment costs are cited as disadvantages of WLAN 6.

The evolution to WLAN 7

WLAN 6 marks a significant advance over previous generations of WLAN, even if the improvements are not immediately obvious to the average user. It is a series of optimizations that together bring a noticeable evolution without fundamentally changing the use of wireless networks. In use since 2019 and standardized by the Wi-Fi Alliance as IEEE 802.11ax, WLAN 6 previously enabled the use of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.

The introduction of WLAN 6E extends the usable frequencies and offers more bandwidth for improved connectivity and data transmission. This helps to reduce bottlenecks and interference in environments with many devices.

WLAN 7 (802.11be Extremely High Throughput) represents a significant leap forward in development. With impressive speeds and minimal latency, it is expected to further increase the productivity and competitiveness of businesses.

The role of WLAN 6 in the future

In conclusion, the switch to WLAN 6 and WLAN 6E brings numerous advantages. The new standard promises better performance in environments with many simultaneously connected devices as well as data throughput for more efficient workflows. Find out how you can further expand your company in our blog post “Build IT infrastructure and benefit from improved processes”.

New compatible hardware may be required to use certain Wi-Fi 6 features. Whether an upgrade is economically and technically viable depends, amongst other things, on the existing equipment, the network requirements and the actual benefits of the additional features. Replacing fully functional devices prematurely may require additional resources for manufacturing, transport and recycling. In our store, we offer a wide range of IT devices for a stable network connection, including well-known brands such as Cisco, HPE Aruba and Juniper.

However, to take full advantage of WLAN technologies, companies must ensure that their devices support the relevant new standards. Overall, the switch to WLAN 6 and WLAN 6E gives organizations the opportunity to optimize their connectivity and future-proof themselves for future requirements.