5G and WiFi 6: when two network technologies are better than one

Now only the lazy does not write and does not speak about 5G (by the way, we already published our article on fifth-generation networks and devices ). But there is another relatively new network technology - WiFi 6. Sometimes you have to read discussions about which is better, 5G or WiFi 6. In fact, these technologies should not be compared, their areas of use are different.



Let's see why and why 5G and WiFi 6 are needed, and where they are best used.

Once again about 5G

So, 5G is not so much for ordinary users, but for business and industry. Fifth generation networks provide an opportunity to actively develop the Internet of things. And this technology will make it possible to build smart cities and put robomobiles on public roads. The Internet of Things industry will provide digitalization, robotics, big data analytics and predictive predictions of emergencies.



5G makes it possible to connect hundreds of thousands and millions of devices to a single network, to work with IoT in real time.



A feature of 5G is the need to create a large number of access points. If there are not enough of them, the connection will not be of too high quality - the signal loss in the case of fifth-generation networks is quite high even at a relatively small distance from the access point.



In addition, telecom operators can launch various 5G networks designed to perform specific functions. Using the same capabilities of the fifth generation networks, the same operator can offer a network for subscribers and a network for IoT devices in a certain area that will not intersect. And such networks can be much more than two.



5G infrastructure is actively deployed in several countries, including South Korea, China, and the USA. The technology is gradually being introduced in Russia.

Well, what is WiFi 6?

This wireless communication standard is written less often than 5G, although it is also important for industry and business (for ordinary users, WiFi 6 is also not a very significant technology).



Overall, this is the latest version of the 802.11 wireless standard, referred to as 802.11ax. It is backward compatible with 802.11ac and allows you to transfer data more efficiently and with less energy.







If the question arose where the WIFi 5 standard went, then you can not worry, just the Wi-Fi Alliance decided to update the types of wireless networks so that it is more clear who is who. The previous standard, 802.11ac, was thus called WiFi 5.







Approval of the standard is scheduled for the third quarter of 2019. Although some manufacturers of network devices already offer equipment with support for a new type of network.



Why is WiFi 6 better than previous standards? The main advantage of this technology is the ability to work simultaneously with a very large number of devices.



The possibilities of WiFi 6 can be clearly illustrated. Imagine a popular bar and the only bartender at the bar. He works well, but does not have time to complete all orders, because he has only two hands, so the number of simultaneously solved tasks is very limited. When visitors are few, everything is fine. But during peak hours, visitors have to wait a long time for their beer or cocktail.



Now let's imagine that our bartender was replaced by Goro from Mortal Combat. Only instead of decades of pumping the killer skill, he devoted time to the art of serving visitors in bars. Well, plus instead of two pairs of hands he has four of them.





And who needs a fresh beer?



As a result, a bar serves a lot more visitors per unit of time. Four hands is not just for you. Indeed, WiFi 6 is able to work 4 times faster than WiFi 5 in conditions of highly loaded systems, when a large number of devices connected to a WiFi network are located on a limited area.

Well, what's the use of WiFi 6 + 5G?

For industry and enterprises, such a symbiosis is of great importance. Correctly selected configuration of the network infrastructure of the object makes it possible to establish a very effective system for transmitting data over the network. WiFi 6, like previous standards, is more about working on a wireless network inside objects (offices, industrial sites, etc.). 5G is best used in an open area, although if the station is nearby, it will work normally inside.



Using both technologies, you can forget about the influence of interference, the number of clients connected to access points, etc. Of course, there are some restrictions for new technologies, but their capabilities are much wider than existing solutions.



By the way, WiFi 6, 5G devices will spend less energy on data transmission in new generation networks. Thus, they will work offline longer than before. This is especially important for battery-powered IoT systems. The developers promise that in some cases we can talk about increasing the duration of battery life from 1 year to 10.



As a conclusion, we can say that this year is the first year of the mass commissioning of new generation networks and gadgets that are able to work with them. By the end of the year, it will be possible to understand how actively WiFi 6 and 5G are being introduced, and next year the first results of the new networks will appear.



Network companies do not stand still, in particular, Zyxel announced the delivery of the first samples of 5G devices to partners. And in October 2019, the company will launch the WAX ​​series - WiFi 6 access points.