Q&A
What are the benefits of 802.11ax?
802.11ax allows enterprises and service providers to support new and emerging applications on the same wireless LAN (WLAN) infrastructure, while delivering a higher grade of service to older applications. This scenario sets the stage for new business models and increased Wi-Fi adoption.
Is 802.11ax different from Wi-Fi 6?
No, they are the same thing. The Wi-Fi Alliance started a campaign to coin the term "Wi-Fi 6" when referring to the IEEE 802.11ax standard. It indicates that the standard is the sixth generation of Wi-Fi. The premise was that simplification of the marketing message could help Wi-Fi be better positioned relative to the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) standards used in cellular (such as 5G wireless technology).
When will the 802.11ax standard be ratified?
The IEEE-Standards Association is currently scheduled to ratify the final IEEE 802.11ax amendment in the middle of 2020. However, the Wi-Fi Alliance is expected to certify key features from the amendment in about August 2019, with additional features (including operation in the 6GHz band) certified over the next couple of years.