The next generation of the Wi-Fi standard is Wi-Fi 6, known as 802.11ax. The technology builds on the strengths of 802.11ac, whilst improving efficiency, flexibility, and scalability. Wi-Fi 6 allows new and existing networks to significantly increase speed and capacity to meet the demands of next-generation applications. Cisco Wi-Fi 6 access points are the go-to wireless network solutions for businesses looking to enhance their wireless access capabilities.
In this article, we explore the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 for businesses and how Cisco’s Catalyst 9000 Series enables organisations to make the most of the next-gen wireless access standard.
Wi-Fi 6: Introducing the next generation in wireless networking
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) enables enterprises and service providers to support new and emerging applications on the same wireless LAN (WLAN) infrastructures, whilst delivering greater service levels to older applications. The need for Wi-Fi 6 derives from huge demands of IoT, cloud computing and increased device mobility. Wi-Fi 6 is helping wireless networking to evolve in line with application advancements.
Projections predict that there will be 18 billion devices and connections by 2022. (Source: Cisco)
This new wireless access standard incorporates an extremely high optional modulation scheme (1024-QAM), which offers a 25% data rate increase in Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) access points and devices. Wi-Fi 6 allows wireless access points to support more clients in high-density environments to provide a better experience for typical WLAN networks. Higher wireless throughput enabled by 1024-QAM is crucial for ensuring quality-of-service in these locations.
The key benefits of Wi-Fi 6
Wi-Fi 6 empowers IT networks with greater reliability, speed and scalability, whilst enabling networks to work better with smart devices and device mobility. Increased visibility and segmentation capabilities for devices improves the security of your wireless network.
Let’s drill down in the main benefits of Wi-Fi 6:
Greater reliability - more consistent and reliable network connections provide a seamless experience for clients, apps and IoT, including video and voice.
Increased speed - enjoy up to 4x faster speed than previous Wi-Fi standards, better user experience and improved performance, especially with intensive apps and collaboration.
More network capacity - handle significantly more data and more active clients per access point than with previous Wi-Fi standards.
Work better with IoT devices - Wi-Fi 6 adds new improvements to the 2.4-GHz band that ensures your wireless network performs better with IoT devices requiring more energy efficiency and better wireless coverage.
Transform network connectivity with Cisco Wi-Fi 6 wireless network solutions
Combine intuitive intent based-networking [link to Catalyst switches blog] with next-generation wireless access. Cisco Wi-Fi 6 access points, specifically Catalyst 9100 Series, along with the Catalyst 9800 Series controllers, expand wireless access with intelligence and provide a secure, reliable high-quality wireless network experience.
Cisco Wi-Fi 6 wireless network solutions enable game-changing mobile experiences, offer 40% faster speeds than the previous generation and allow more device and IoT capacity for immersive applications and high-density environments.
Here’s a snapshot of advantages offered by Cisco Wi-Fi 6:
- Automates policy deployment across the network
- Greater insights and experiences to provide personalised services
- Impressive wireless connectivity and speed
- Secure access, segmenting unsecured devices from the network
- Protects the network from interference sources and wireless attacks
- Available for Meraki and Cisco Catalyst 9100 access points
Cisco Wi-Fi 6 access points
Cisco’s Wi-Fi 6 access points help organisations handle the challenges of modern networking demands. And you can go beyond Wi-Fi 6 with Cisco Catalyst 9100 wireless access points and wireless controllers (Catalyst 9800).
Catalyst 9100 access points are resilient, intelligent and provide integrated security for your mobile clients and IoT devices. Enjoy increased density and connect more devices at higher throughputs. Wi-Fi 6 access points offer up to four times the performance of 802.11ac and up to 50% reduced latency.
Catalyst 9800 wireless controllers are highly secure, compatible with Catalyst 9100 access points and ready to deploy anywhere, on-premises, in a public or private cloud or embedded on a switch.
Here’s a summary of the main benefits of Cisco Catalyst 9100 access points:
Reduced latency - more than 100 devices per access point can connect with latency-sensitive apps, up to three times more than with earlier Wi-Fi standards.
Addresses IoT expansion - the wireless access points offer multilingual support and application hosting of IoT protocols. Devices require three times less energy consumption and stricter security.
Investment protection with multigigabit - Catalyst 9100 supports NBASE-T and IEEE 802.3bz Ethernet compatibility, seamlessly offloading network traffic. Use Category 5e or 6 cables to achieve speeds up to 10 Gbps thanks to Cisco Multigigabit Technology.
Go beyond Wi-Fi 6 - when paired with Cisco DNA Assurance, these wireless access points use programmable RF ASIC intelligence and visibility to run networks more efficiently.
Specification details:
- Denser modulation using 1024 QAM, enabling 35% speed burst
- Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)
- Robust high-efficiency signalling to operate at a lower Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI)
- Better scheduling and increased device battery life with Target Wake Time (TWT)
Explore Cisco’s Wi-Fi 6 (802.11AX) Access Points via the Vohkus Webshop:
Catalyst 9120AXI Wireless Access Point
Catalyst C9115I Wireless Access Point
Note: Wi-Fi 6 is also available for certain Cisco Meraki access points.
Summary
If you want to meet the demands of the next generation of applications and connectivity requirements, Cisco Wi-Fi 6 is the wireless network solution for modern business. Cisco’s next-gen wireless access points offer the required performance, efficiency, flexibility and scalability for today’s complex network access landscape, which has been transformed by IoT and cloud computing.
