Wi-Fi 6E Singapore: What is WiFi 6E vs 6 vs 7, router, & speed?

With the increase in the production of mobile gadgets and smart home appliances that can be remotely controlled over Wi-Fi, it is a fact that we have become increasingly reliant on wireless internet connectivity over the years.

Having a stable Wi-Fi signal is essential, whether you’re streaming a movie or downloading an important file.

In a home setting, several users may also be tapping into the same Wi-Fi network at the same time, which makes the strength of the Wi-Fi a key consideration for when you are thinking of replacing or getting a new router or mesh system.

What does 6E mean on WiFi?

Wi-Fi 6E devices are connected through the 6-gigahertz (GHz) band, which is the latest unlicensed spectrum on the market. It is a significant enhancement compared to the two existing Wi-fi bands: 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, which our current mobile devices use.

Benefits of WiFi 6E vs 6

While a Wi-Fi 6 connection can increase the efficiency of data transfer, the biggest advantage of Wi-Fi 6E over Wi-Fi 6 is the ability to form wider 160MHz channels without the need for using DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) channels, which is a function of using 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequencies generally reserved for radar, such as military radar, satellite communication, and weather radar.

In simpler terms, this allows the router to more easily hit its theoretical top speeds.

Does WiFi 6E go through walls?

However, operating at a higher frequency does have its disadvantages, as Wi- Fi 6E will encounter more difficulty penetrating solid walls and floors.

This restricts the range of its connection, which means a Wi-Fi 6E connection will automatically be reduced to a 5 GHz band and a user won’t be able to benefit from its improved speed or performance.

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Do I need a new WiFi 6E router?

If your current router can only operate up to 5 GHz band, you will require a new one that can support Wi-Fi 6E. However, do note that while it is essential to have the right router or mesh system, you will also need to ensure that your devices and appliances are Wi-Fi 6E enabled.

Even though a lot of android devices, computers and televisions support 6E, most tech brands have yet to incorporate it into their products. This includes most Macbooks and iOS devices, as well as game consoles like Playstation and Xbox.

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WiFi 6E Speed

WiFi 6E's theoretical maximum transfer rate is 9.6Gbps. This is actually the same as Wi-Fi 6.

Wi-Fi 6E just makes it easier to form 160MHz wide channels without the need for DFS Wi-Fi channels. At this rate, Wi-Fi 6 outperforms Wi-Fi 5 (3.5 Gbps) and Wi-Fi 4 (600 Mbps).

The increased rate means more users can make use of the same network without experiencing any slowdown to their data download speed.

No WiFi 6E Compatible Devices Yet

However, it’s worth mentioning that speed is also dependent on client devices. Right now, there isn’t any device that can actually support those speeds.

Moreover, speed isn’t actually the determining factor in the number of users it can support. That has more to do with the number of streams a router has and supporting technologies like OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency- Division Multiple Access), a technology in Wi-Fi 6, which improves wireless network performance by establishing independently modulating subcarriers within frequencies.

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Should I upgrade to WiFi 6E?

The simple answer is no. Unless your router is old (Wi-Fi 5 or older), it’s better to wait for Wi-Fi 7. Fundamentally, there are two issues with upgrading to Wi-Fi 6E right now.

Better to wait for WiFi 7

The first is that its approval by IMDA has come very late and puts it close to the roll-out of Wi-Fi 7, which, on paper at least, seems to hold more promise than Wi-Fi 6E.

A problem with Wi-Fi 6E is that it seeks to solve the bandwidth issue by simply tapping into unused swathes of the 6GHz spectrum.

WiFi 6E Range Issue

While this theoretically improves speed (easier to form 160MHz channels), it comes at the cost of range, which is already an issue with current Wi-Fi 6 routers.

What this means in practice is that unless your devices are close to the router, you will not experience the full benefits of Wi-Fi 6E and might be better off using a regular Wi-Fi 6 router instead.

Current iPhones Don't Support WiFi 6E

And if you want to take advantage of Wi-Fi 6E at all, not only will you need new Wi-Fi 6E routers, you need your client devices (phones, notebooks, desktops, smart home devices, etc.) to support Wi-Fi 6E as well. And right now, that’s not a very big list – only a handful of the most cutting-edge devices do.

Even the latest iPhones don’t support Wi-Fi 6E.

Personally, for most homes in Singapore, Wi-Fi 6E may not be a worthwhile upgrade. And further making the upgrade to Wi-Fi 6E an unattractive proposition is the fact that we are on the cusp of making another major switch to Wi-Fi 7.

WiFi 7 Available Late 2023, Early 2024

The first Wi-Fi 7 routers are expected to be ready later this year or early next year. And compared to Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7 will boast more significant new technologies and promises to be even faster.