By Tara Lachapelle
Problems of Wifi? At least future routers will be ready for the next pandemic.
Now that much of USA is in isolation to stop the spread of coronavirusWe are all more aware than ever of how important WiFi is, and it’s something that many of us probably took for granted until now. Before the pandemic, almost everyone was focused on 5G, the next big thing in mobile internet technology, and the possibilities it would create for our lifestyles on the go. The country has been in a hurry to build new 5G wireless networks that are fast enough to do things like download movies in the blink of an eye, and someday even power driverless cars. The only thing is that “on the go” and “driving” don’t mean much when we literally don’t go anywhere these days.
The good news is that WiFi has also been quietly getting a much-needed update. Unfortunately, he has not arrived in time for this moment, when we all need him the most. But it’s just around the corner, and later this month, the Federal Communications Commission will vote to free up a lot of spectrum, an important step for the next generation of indoor wireless technology, known as WiFi 6.
If you’re thinking, “Wait, I don’t remember WiFi 4 or 5,” that’s because the consumer-friendly naming convention is relatively new. Eighteen months ago, the WiFi Alliance began designating 802.11ac technology, for example – and the devices that support it – as WiFi 5. That’s the current standard, and it’s roughly seven years old. (The standard for WiFi 6 is 802.11ax, if you need the data.)
But let’s forget the technological jargon. All you really need to know is that WiFi 6 will be faster and much more efficient, capable of powering an increasing number of devices simultaneously: iPads, laptops, smart TVs, video game consoles, connected kitchen appliances, virtual reality platforms, etc. WiFi 5 can handle some, but not all at once, leading to network congestion and slowdown as devices in our homes vie for bandwidth. Some households may be feeling it due to the pandemic if, for example, one parent is trying to video Zoom from a laptop, while the other is watching Netflix and the children are using their tablets to attend virtual school classes or play online.
The ability to handle as many devices will also come in handy in places like crowded concert halls. In that way, WiFi 6 is like the indoor version of 5G. And it has other interesting features, such as extending the battery life of our devices, since it will know when they are normally used and will wait to send or receive data until that moment.
WiFi 6 already exists, only there aren’t many routers or devices available that support it. The FCC vote on April 23 will make its arrival more official, when 1,200 megahertz of spectrum in the 6 gigahertz band are made available. There are already licensed users of those airwaves, such as news networks and cities for their public security offices. In a complex engineering feat, existing users will be able to continue using it as well.
Wireless and home internet providers say US networks remain broadly despite increasing demand in recent weeks, although some third-party sources have shown big speed drops in certain cities. We need better data, and the FCC should do more to keep citizens informed. But at least part of the frustration that comes with trying to connect to the internet while we’re all locked up at home will eventually be resolved with WiFi 6. Hopefully there is no other reason like this to give it a try.
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