Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7: The Latest in Wireless
Understanding the latest generation of wireless technology.
Running Out of Air
Wi-Fi works on radio frequencies. For 20 years, we have used two bands:
2.4GHz: Long range, but slow and crowded (microwaves, baby monitors).
5GHz: Fast, but short range. Now getting crowded in apartment blocks.
With Gigabit fibre speeds becoming common, these old roads are jammed. We need a new highway.
Enter Wi-Fi 6E: The 6GHz Band
Wi-Fi 6E is the biggest upgrade in history. It opens up a brand new frequency: 6GHz. This band is massive (double the size of 5GHz) and, crucially, it is empty. Only new devices can use it. It has zero interference from older tech. Using Wi-Fi 6E is like driving a supercar on a private, empty motorway. You can easily get real-world speeds of 1500Mbps+ wirelessly.
Enter Wi-Fi 7: The Speed Demon
Wi-Fi 7 takes 6GHz and turbocharges it.
Multi-Link Operation (MLO): This is the killer feature. Currently, your phone connects to 2.4 OR 5GHz. With Wi-Fi 7, it connects to 2.4, 5, AND 6GHz simultaneously. It combines the speeds of all of them and switches packets between them instantly to avoid lag.
Do You Need It?
To use it, you need a new Router AND a new Phone/Laptop.
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iPhone 15 Pro and later support 6E.
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High-end Androids support 6E/7.
If you are upgrading your CityFibre package to 1.6Gbps or higher, you need Wi-Fi 6E/7 to actually see those speeds. For a standard 900Mbps user, Wi-Fi 6 is sufficient, but 6E offers better future-proofing.