Wi-Fi Is Getting Its Biggest Upgrade In 20 Years; #WiFi #WiFi6E

New York (The Verge) — Wi-Fi is getting its biggest upgrade in 20 years trib.al/Gjli4QQ.

Is 6GHz Wi-Fi faster? Wi-Fi routers will soon start supporting these stronger connections, called Wi-Fi 6E. Here are the early details on their benefits and when they’ll be available.

This is the biggest spectrum addition since the FCC cleared the way for Wi-Fi in 1989, so it’s a huge deal. The new spectrum basically quadruples the amount of space available for routers and other devices, so it will mean a lot more bandwidth and a lot less interference for any device that can take advantage of it.

“This is the most monumental decision around Wi-Fi spectrum in its history, in the 20 years we’ve been around,” Kevin Robinson, marketing leader for the Wi-Fi Alliance, an industry-backed group that oversees the implementation of Wi-Fi, said ahead of the vote.

Devices are expected to start supporting 6GHz Wi-Fi by the end of 2020, so its implementation isn’t far away. When it arrives, expect to see it branded under the name “Wi-Fi 6E.”

Wi-Fi works by broadcasting over airwaves that are open for anyone to use. Today, it’s working over two bands: 2.4GHz and 5GHz. Now, we’re adding a third band, 6GHz. — Jacob Kastrenakes/@verge