What is Wi-Fi 6?

Wi-Fi 6 is the next generation of Wi-Fi technology built with Internet of Things (IoT) technology and scope in mind. The difference between Wi-Fi 6 and earlier versions is that, while previous standards focused mainly on increasing raw data rates, this new generation focuses on better efficiency, capacity, and performance. 

5 key technologies of Wi-Fi 6:

1.  Orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA)

Rather than orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) used by Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6 uses the more advanced, multi-user oriented OFDMA. OFDMA enables more users to simultaneously operate on the same channel, improving efficiency, latency, and data throughput.

2.  Target wake time (TWT)

Target wake time allows devices to be smarter about how often they “wake up” to send or receive data. TWT enables devices to use sleep time more effectively, conserving battery life, and making IoT networks more power-efficient.

3.  1024 quadrature amplitude modulation mode (1024-QAM)

A higher modulation scheme means higher data throughput and capacity. Combined with other key technologies, moving from 256-QAM (Wi-Fi 5) to 1024-QAM (Wi-Fi 6) results in a 25% increase in capacity.

4.  Transmit beamforming

This capability improves signal power, resulting in higher data rates in a given range, which is crucial to achieving high speeds when operating in a higher spectrum range.

5.  Multi-user multiple-input, multiple-output (MU-MIMO)

MU-MIMO enables an access point to handle a larger number of simultaneous users by increasing the data transfer rate. In addition, it also adds an uplink capability for multiple users.

AT&T Business Wi-Fi

Prepare yourself for Wi-Fi 6 in the best way possible with AT&T Business Wi-Fi Services. Our fully-integrated, managed Wi-Fi and LAN services help businesses and their customers stay connected and protected.

Find out how

Wi-Fi 6 is purpose-built for the connected world we live in today.

Better performance in congested areas

Businesses with high traffic or in condensed urban areas can often experience slow Wi-Fi. Many signals are sharing spectrum not designed to handle the kind of bandwidth strain that is common today. The various technologies that create Wi-Fi 6 make for better spectrum efficiency and increase the capacity to handle large amounts of devices.

Reduced power needs

Businesses can expect their IoT devices to use less power and have longer battery lives while on Wi-Fi 6, cutting down on the cost and time associated with keeping your devices powered up.

Latest security standards

Wi-Fi 6 contains an updated security protocol, WPA3, that provides greater defense against malicious cyberattacks. Help keep your sensitive data safe and keep yourself protected with the latest threats.



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