Wi-Fi 6

IEEE 802.11ax-2021 or 802.11ax, is an IEEE standard from the Wi-Fi Alliance, for wireless networks (WLANs). The standard is marketed as Wi-Fi 6. It operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, with an extended version, Wi-Fi 6E, that adds the 6 GHz band. It is an upgrade from Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac), with improvements for better performance in crowded places. Wi-Fi 6 covers frequencies in license-exempt ISM bands, including the commonly used 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, as well as the broader 6 GHz band (for WiFi 6E).

This standard aims to boost throughput in crowded places like offices and malls. Though the nominal data rate is only 37% higher than that of 802.11ac, the throughput increases by at least four times, making it more efficient and reducing latency by 75%. The quintupling of overall throughput is made possible by higher spectral efficiency.

802.11ax Wi-Fi has a main feature called OFDMA, similar to how cellular common-carrier networks work. This brings better spectrum use, improved power control to avoid interference, and enhancements like 1024‑QAM, MIMO and MU-MIMO for faster speeds. There are also reliability improvements such as lower power consumption and security protocols like Target Wake Time and WPA3.

The 802.11ax standard was approved on September 1, 2020, with Draft 8 getting 95% approval. Subsequently, on February 1, 2021, the standard received official endorsement from the IEEE Standards Board.