Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Networking

Background

Currently, emerging applications such as 4K/8K video, AR/VR, and the IoT have presented new requirements for wireless network. As a new-generation WLAN technology standard, Wi-Fi 6 has the advantages of high speed, multi-concurrency, large capacity and low power consumption. A network can support various services of customers through the integration and complementarity of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G, meeting the requirements of different service application scenarios, greatly improving the production and operation efficiency of enterprises, and providing reliable base connections for enterprise digital transformation to realize Internet of everything.

The keyword of the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is HEW (high-efficiency wireless). In this protocol, the efficiency of multi-user concurrency is improved by optimizing the physical layer and link layer, solving the problem of low effective throughput. The ultimate objective of the protocol is to support indoor and outdoor scenarios, enhance spectrum efficiency, and realize four-time improvement of the actual throughput in a dense user environment.

Wi-Fi 6 core technology

Higher-level modulation technology (1024-QAM): Maximum rate up to 9.6 Gbps (160 MHz bandwidth, 8 streams)

OFDMA (orthogonal frequency division multiple access): Add a new OFDMA mechanism to support both uplink and downlink, reduce the latency caused by backoff between multiple users, and improve the efficiency of multi-user concurrency

Uplink and downlink MU-MIMO: Support the uplink MU-MIMO function based on the 802.11ac protocol, which can be used together with OFDMA technology to further improve the concurrent efficiency of multiple users

Spatial reuse (SR) &BSS Coloring mechanism: The spatial reuse of 802.11ax is realized through the BSS coloring mechanism, so as to achieve the shared utilization of channel resources and improve the overall channel utilization efficiency

Target Wake Times: Allow the AP to negotiate sleep and wake-up time with the STA, to reduce unnecessary wake-up of the STA and save energy

Wi-Fi 6 application scenarios

From the introduction of key technologies above, we can see that Wi-Fi 6 outperforms previous protocols in the following scenarios.

1. More suitable for high-density scenarios

a) OFDMA technology, spatial reuse, and better MU-MIMO can greatly improve multi-user concurrent performance.

b) Airports, exhibitions & fairs, smart classrooms, video conferencing, and live streaming will show the high reliability and high concurrency of Wi-Fi 6.

2. Better outdoor transmission

a) The 802.11ax redivides subcarriers into smaller groups, which can better support the OFDMA technology, and achieve a higher rate (higher than that of the 802.11ac in the same bandwidth, quantity of streams, and coding scheme). The narrower bandwidth makes the transmission distance farther than that of the 802.11ac with less interference. With larger frame spacing protection, the outdoor wireless coverage range, efficiency, and reliability of the 802.11ax are also better than that of the 802.11ac.

b) The extremely fast network experience of Wi-Fi 6 will be provided in scenic spots, public areas, gymnasiums, and other scenarios.

3. Higher power saving efficiency

a) The introduction of the TWT technology can greatly reduce the number of wake-up times of the client. Through the spatial reuse technology, the client can adjust the transmitting power according to usage requirements, which can not only avoid the co-channel interference, but also lead to better energy saving performance.

b) Environment protection is an important component of the new era. Wi-Fi 6 can greatly reduce power consumption and achieve green energy saving while ensuring performance.