Road to Wi-Fi 6 – my way or highway!

Let’s begin with another hot topic in the present networking industry….

Emerging and novel 802.11 wireless LAN technologies continue to evolve. If you want to upgrade now, then upgrade to Wi-Fi 6. This next ride will help you decide.

This is not just another speed and feed upgrade, but a bag full of opportunities to convince consumers about the nature of Wi-Fi 6 technology and map the journey from legacy infrastructure to the future.

Nirav Sheth, Vice President, WW Sales & Systems Engineering, Global Partner Organization at Cisco, commented: “The journey for customers doesn’t begin when the product is bought. It’s when they activate and drive value from the software capabilities.” Further, he added, “Customers are looking to embrace technology opportunities and they are looking to their partners for help … We want to make sure partners are monetizing the lifecycle opportunity.”

What is Wi-Fi 6?

Simple, it a novel wireless technology, which is also termed 802.11ax. 802.11ax or Wi-Fi 6 is responsible for making big waves in network connectivity and user experience enhancements. This wireless technology is all about access, such as access to services, access to applications, and access to data.

Demand for mobility is continuously increasing; thus, enhancements in technologies such as Wi-Fi 6, internet of things (IoT), and 5G are addressing the need for more mobile access. Thus, changing the way for businesses of every size.

Wi-Fi 6 offers enhanced power efficiency, reduced latency, and more excellent reliability.

The leading charge

It is leading the charge by opening new possibilities for the wireless world. It will support the present applications and boost innovations to change the way people work. Wi-Fi 6 was born in 2019, and its standard was rectified in September 2019. Samsung was the first one to launch a Wi-Fi 6 device in February 2020. From, Wi-Fi alliance, the Galaxy Note 10 was the first smartphone to get Wi-Fi 6 certified. Behind the scenes, Cisco collaborated with Samsung to validate that Wi-Fi 6 actually delivers longer battery life, faster connections, and has more capacity.

Leading smartphones equipped with Wi-Fi 6 comprise Samsung Galaxy S10 and Apple iPhone 11.

Let’s start with two basic facts – in this modern world, we are more reliant on network than earlier, and Wi-Fi 6 gives us more of what we need. It is consistent, and we can always count on a network connection that offers speed up to four times faster than 802.11ac Wave 2 with four times the capacity.

The Wi-Fi standard 6 offers a smooth experience to users by allowing the functioning of next-generation applications such as virtual reality (VR), 4K/8K streaming HD, and augmented reality (AR). It also offers IoT capacity for high-density environments such as manufacturing facilities, university lecture halls, stadiums, and malls.

Significant benefits of Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 technology:

  • Enhanced power efficacy
  • Higher data rates
  • Performs best even connected to several devices
  • Higher capacity
  • More contiguous spectrum
  • Wider channels

Launch of products

Cisco is betting big on the new Wi-Fi standard 802.11ax and has launched a series of products and solutions for enterprises to connect in a novel way. The Wi-Fi 6 standards help wireless products deliver approximately 400% greater capacity.

That seems super gripping, isn’t it?

The products Cisco launched that are based on 802.11ax comprise:

1. Core switch for the campus network

Cisco introduced a novel Catalyst 9600 core switch family and raised its bar in the industry. This core switch family will serve as the foundation central to any network’s successful operation and deliver the most efficient and secure wireless experience organizations need. It is designed as the next evolution of the Catalyst 6000 (one of the successful networking products in the history of the internet.)

The Catalyst 9600 is anticipated to be the bedrock for the next generation of internet-based business networks.

2. Wi-Fi 6 access points

These novel access points across the Meraki and Catalyst’s portfolios go beyond offering the novel Wi-Fi 6 standard. Cisco’s latest APs (access points) deliver a more secure and smarter wireless network with access to top industry analytics capabilities and personalized programmable chipsets. The latest APs are also multilingual, with a feature to communicate with several IoT protocols comprising Thread, BLE, and Zigbee.

3. DevNet Wireless Dev center

It creates game-changing wireless applications for sandboxes and learning labs.

David Goeckeler, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Networking and Security Business at Cisco, commented: “Every leap in connectivity enables the next wave of profound innovation. 5G and Wi-Fi 6 represent a new era of connectivity.” Further, he added, “Developers are already creating the next generation of wireless-first, immersive experiences. With billions of things connecting to the network, this growth will create unprecedented complexity for IT. Cisco is building a multi-domain network architecture to simplify complexity for IT, allowing CIOs to deliver against their innovation agenda.”

Cisco projects that approximately 27% of wireless LAN endpoints in service will be compatible with Wi-Fi 6 by 2023.

Bonus tip

Wi-Fi 6E’s gonna arrive soon!

Qualcomm Technologies is soon gonna launch a range of products to take advantage of the so-called Wi-Fi 6E standard.

The Wi-Fi Alliance commented: “It will start certifying devices that are compatible with the 6GHz band using the Wi-Fi 6E logo starting in early 2021, but Asus, for one, has already announced “the world’s first Wi-Fi 6E router” and promised availability in December 2020.”

Wi-Fi 6E is expected to resolve issues in areas where Wi-Fi use is presently congested. Thus, the Coronavirus pandemic may raise the question regarding the importance of serving many users in crowded places.

Wi-Fi 6 solution, Programmable RF Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs)

RF ASICs are custom-developed to offer you real-time analytics and a platform for future capabilities and innovation.

  • Dual-filter Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) detection to prevent interference for optimal performance.
  • Cisco CleanAir technology to alleviate the influence of wireless interference by protecting the performance.
  • Cisco Wireless Intrusion Prevention System (wIPS) to detect, mitigate, locate, and contain wireless and wired rogues and threats at Layers 1 through 3.

Closing thoughts

With Wi-Fi 6 technology, one can have the best of both worlds, i.e., new capabilities and direct business benefits.

Technology can support us connect more effortlessly, regularly, and have richer experiences – who as a human being isn’t fascinated about that?

Wi-Fi 6, the magic potion, is going to rule the internet in the coming years.

Wi-Fi 6 is here, so now what? We will discuss this in our next segment, Part II – Wi-Fi 6 – Magic Potion for the Internet. Coming soon……till then, download our latest whitepapers on networking.