The Wi-Fi issues property professionals currently experience are promised to be solved with the latest wireless standard, Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6, otherwise known as 802.11ax, is designed specifically for high-density public spaces to increase levels of speed and reduce wireless congestion.
Though it’s been a fully approved standard for some time, actually seeing or buying a Wi-Fi 6 router has been both rare and expensive until recently. Undoubtedly, it will affect how tenants choose both residential and commercial buildings where bandwidth hungry technology (such as video conferencing and streaming) is widely used.
Here’s a deeper look into the technology that sits behind Wi-Fi 6 and how it can impact your customers experience:
#1 Faster throughput speeds
Wi-Fi 6 speeds are up to 40% faster than the speeds using Wi-Fi 5 technology, offering increased throughput speeds effectively nearing 10Gbps. Wi-Fi 6 even increases speeds on 2.4GHz networks. While the industry has shifted to 5GHz Wi-Fi for less interference, 2.4GHz is still better at penetrating solid objects.
#2 Better performance in crowded areas
Wi-Fi 6 can now divide a wireless channel into a large number of subchannels, each subchannel carrying data intended for a different device. This means that Wi-Fi 6 will improve each user’s average speed by X4 in congested areas, greatly improving performance of shared and public networks.
#3 Enhanced security
Wi-Fi 6 has a new WPA3 security protocol (released in 2018), making it more challenging for hackers to crack passwords using algorithms. The Wi-Fi 6 certification makes WPA3 support a requirement, meaning better encryption and therefore better protection.
#4 Seamless connectivity on the go
5G and WiFi 6 will co-exist and work better together to support different use cases. Wi-Fi 6 will continue to be the access choice for indoor networks, whilst 5G will be the designated choice for outdoor networks. The result? Uninterrupted wireless access in the office, in the car, in the park or working remotely.
#5 Longer device battery life
The Wi-Fi 6 standard incorporates a “Target Wake Time (TWT)” feature. Once a Wi-Fi 6 access point has talked to a device, it can put the Wi-Fi radio to sleep until the next transmission, conserving power. This is a big advantage for battery-powered devices and the end user.
As Wi-Fi 6 becomes increasingly affordable and available, it will soon become a core component of the PropTech infrastructure. With the shift towards hybrid working, increased high bandwidth capabilities are required to run multiple wireless devices, as well as allow for high-speed streaming and video conferencing in both residential and commercial properties. Wi-Fi 6 will continue to prove it’s value as more reliable, secure and high speed than other access technology, and those who are quick to adopt it will undoubtedly reap high rewards.
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