[ad_1]
While 5G is the talk of the city, WiFi still has a place in the world and there is a new version of it that you should know.
The Wi-Fi Alliance announced Monday that it would begin offering WiFi 6 certifications to device manufacturers. This means that the non-profit group will ensure that WiFi 6 devices all meet the same technical standards. If they are, a badge will appear on the package to inform you.
It's fine, but what does it really mean? Fortunately, we are here to explain everything.
How is WiFi 6 great?
WiFi 6 is a new version of the same WiFi that you have been using for more than 10 years, but faster and more efficient. While the mobile internet has moved from 3G to 4G and is moving to 5G this year, WiFi technology has progressively improved over the years.
Since we are constantly asking more information about our Internet, such as watching 4K streaming movies and even whole video games, it makes sense that our WiFi becomes better.
The main thing you need to know, is that it offers much faster speeds than the WiFi that we all use at the present time. According to CNET tests, the average download speed in the United States could be greater than about 1,000%.
Yes, it's fast. One of the other selling points, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance, is that Wi-Fi 6 can work better in overcrowded environments where many devices are connected to a single network. Internet speeds in sports stadiums or other places filled could be significantly better with WiFi 6.
Great! Does this mean that my devices will all be faster now?
The iPhone 11 is one of the biggest products to support Wi-Fi 6 at the moment.
Image: Christoph Dernbach / alliance photo via Getty Images
Right now, not really. We are still in the early stages of deploying WiFi 6, and devices must be built with the standard in mind to take advantage of it.
To be clear, this is absolutely happening. Companies like Netgear have already produced a handful of WiFi 6 compliant routers, while the Samsung Galaxy S10 and iPhone 11 also support the standard. That said, all these devices are blocked by ISPs in the United States.
It is good that WiFi 6 can reach download speeds well above 1,000 Mbps, but most home networks do not support it at the moment. If you buy a Wi-Fi compatible device 6 but your home Internet plan does not exceed 200 Mbps, it's a bit like if you were using a 5G phone on a 4G network. It will work and everything will be fine, but it will not be different from what you are used to.
Even though Wi-Fi 6 does not work for most people or devices in 2019, it is important that standards are now set to ensure that it runs smoothly once the infrastructure is in place. It may take a few years before you see tangible effects of WiFi 6 deployment, but rest assured that this is happening.
[ad_2]
Source link