Enterprise wireless design has evolved beyond legacy 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz congestion with the opening of 1,200 MHz of unlicensed spectrum in the 6 GHz band under Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) and Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be).
1. Wi-Fi Generations Comparison
| Wireless Standard | Frequency Bands | Max Channel Width | Modulation | Key Innovation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) | 5 GHz only | 160 MHz | 256-QAM | Downlink MU-MIMO |
| Wi-Fi 6 / 6E (802.11ax) | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz | 160 MHz | 1024-QAM | OFDMA & 6 GHz Clean Spectrum |
| Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) | 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, 6 GHz | 320 MHz | 4096-QAM | Multi-Link Operation (MLO) |