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Wi-Fi 6E Holds Full Potential of Wi-Fi

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On January 3rd, 2020, the Wi-Fi Alliance introduced a new term, Wi-Fi 6E. It comes after the FCC’s comments, at Mobile World Congress, making spectrum available for Wi-Fi in the 6 GHz spectrum. The E stands for Extended – bringing 6 GHz into Wi-Fi 6.

That is the difference between Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E.

Wi-Fi 6 is the latest protocol improvement and marketing name of 802.11ax. It operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz spectrum.

Wi-Fi 6E extends the name by adding the 6 GHz spectrum. A Wi-Fi Alliance certified device as Wi-Fi 6E will support 6 GHz. Broadcom has already announced a portfolio of Wi-Fi 6E enterprise access point chips.

FCC Regulation

Bringing 6 GHz to Wi-Fi is not a done deal. The FCC continues to talk with major incumbents currently occupying 6 GHz for licensing purposes such as public safety, utilities, and others. AT&T is concerned about potential interference to their equipment by unlicensed devices.

AT&T proposes to implement Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) for unlicensed implementation of 6 GHz to avoid potential interference.

Organizations banded together and have written letters to the FCC, including Facebook, on the innovation potential of 6 GHz, if unlicensed.

The 6 GHz band is going to be tremendous

Ajit Pai

“The 6 GHz band is going to be tremendous,” says FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, supporting the release of 6 GHz for unlicensed use.

Benefits of 6 GHz

Wi-Fi currently operates at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. It’s a finite resource for unlicensed use. Unlocking 6 GHz for unlicensed Wi-Fi will bring immense value and performance potential.

The Wi-Fi industry is limited to the currently available spectrum. In areas of high density and the need for higher capacity, we are unable to use wider channel widths to realize the increase in bandwidth.

By utilizing 6 GHz, access points and devices will be on a newer frequency less occupied by the noise of today’s and yesterday’s devices.

If the plans to open up 6 GHz come through, we will see double the amount of available spectrum, 1200 MHz.

Most notably, using 80 MHz and 160 MHz channel widths will bring a tremendous increase in Wi-Fi performance.

We’re only able to use two non-overlapping channels at 160 MHz wide.

In 6 GHz, we can use up to seven 160 MHz non-overlapping channels and up to 14 80 MHz non-overlapping channels.

The potential improvement is significant. But it will require new hardware for access points, laptops, mobile phones, and tablets.

Upgrade Plans?

It is still unknown if and when 6 GHz arrives for unlicensed Wi-Fi use. Major vendors are beginning to do internal lab testing. But no announcements have been made yet.

A firmware upgrade will not be possible to enable 6 GHz on the current Wi-Fi infrastructure. The update will most likely require a hardware refresh unless the access point came with a 6 GHz chipset.

Before making any plans to upgrade to 6 GHz-capable devices, I recommend testing a few units out. Remember, during laptop or device testing, the access point must also have a 6 GHz chipset to check full compatibility.

For now, we will need to wait for the FCC to open up 6 GHz to the masses for unlicensed use, which could be 1-3 years away.

The Best of Wi-Fi 6 – OFDMA

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New Wi-Fi 6 hardware is making it into the market and the hands of consumers. Enterprises need to keep up with the demand and requests for Wi-Fi 6.

But will all the new Wi-Fi 6 features provide significant gains? There is only one exciting feature worth keeping an eye on, and that is OFDMA, or Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access.

In previous Wi-Fi generations, wireless communications were using a modulation scheme called OFDM, or Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing. A serialized way for devices to transmit and receive data wirelessly.

The difference is that OFDMA can send multiple transmissions from multiple devices over the same frequency, achieved through subcarriers. It will provide efficiency over Wi-Fi, which would increase speed and improve latency.

Hardware Support

With Wi-Fi 6 not yet ratified as a standard, what can we expect from the hardware vendors? Major vendors such as Cisco, Aruba, Aerohive, and Mist have been selling Wi-Fi 6 supported access points.

But the details are in the chipset. Vendors purchase Wi-Fi 6 chipsets from a few major manufacturers such as Broadcom and Qualcomm. The release of Wi-Fi 6 features, such as OFDMA, is dependent on the version of SDKs to the major vendors.

There’s a high probability that an access point supports Wi-Fi 6 but may not have Wi-Fi 6 features implemented yet. Software updates will unlock these features for devices to use.

Table 1.1 – Wi-Fi 6 capable access points

Brand2×24×48×8
ArubaAP-514
AP-515		AP-530 Series
AP-555
CiscoC9115
C9120		C9117
C9130
EngeniusECW220
EWS357		ECW230
EWS377
Extreme NetworksAP305AP505
AP510
AP560
MerakiMR45MR55
Mist (Juniper)AP43
Mojo Networks (Arista)C-250
RuckusR650
R750		R730
* Indicates Wi-Fi 6 Certified

Then there’s the support of Wi-Fi 6 from the laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. There are not many that support Wi-Fi 6 today. Laptops will require a chipset upgrade, available from Intel. Replacement of legacy hardware, such as tablets and IoT, is needed.

IoT will be the slowest to transition to Wi-Fi 6, infrequently upgraded, and limited in support.

How To Test OFDMA

How can you verify OFDMA is in use today? Vendors haven’t opened up the documentation to shed light on this topic. By default, OFDMA might not be enabled.

Wi-Fi experts do not have many options to verify this themselves with limited hardware testing devices available. There are no tools available to check OFDMA in action visually. Currently, it requires an in-depth expert analysis of the wireless frames using a capable machine.

Benefits on the horizon?

The question still stands, at which point will we start to see the benefits of Wi-Fi 6. There will be a long transition from Wi-Fi 5. A mix of legacy and next-gen Wi-Fi 6 devices will be operating together.

Once the infrastructure is upgraded to Wi-Fi 6 and more Wi-Fi 6 capable devices join the network, we will be able to see a shift. Once OFDMA is operational, we will see the efficiencies not just for Wi-Fi 6 devices but also for legacy ones. What the percentage between Wi-Fi 6 vs. others is yet to be known.

Will we need fewer access points when migrating to Wi-Fi 6? High density and capacity areas may need fewer access points if the efficiencies are real. But this does not change coverage. A Wi-Fi design will be required to identify the number of access points needed and their locations based on a set of network and user requirements.

Takeaway

Begin testing Wi-Fi 6 access points. Acquire Wi-Fi 6 devices and check them with your current devices. A well-planned test with a small subset of users is ideal before a mass rollout.

Transitioning to Wi-Fi 6?

Do you have questions about transitioning to Wi-Fi 6? We can help. Contact us today.

Securing Open WiFi with OWE

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Every day we are connecting to open unencrypted Wi-Fi networks. These are networks such as enterprise guest networks, coffee shops, airport Wi-Fi, public venues, and more.

Security is everyone’s responsibility, including the user. But with Wi-Fi connectivity we seem to connect willingly without a single thought. Unencrypted Wi-Fi networks leave a gap in security. It can be a point of entry for malicious intent.

Unencrypted, open, Wi-Fi networks leave a device vulnerable between it and an access point. It’s one layer of security often left untouched and forgotten. Simply for the ease of use.

There is now a way to improve the security posture of open Wi-Fi networks while still keeping them “open” and easy to use.

It’s called Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE).

OWE provides a way for devices to connect to open Wi-Fi networks with an encrypted session. Traffic exchanged between the device and access point can take advantage of having a third party snoop on the communications.

Inside technical look at OWE from https://rowelldionicio.com/identifying-owe-transition-mode-with-wireshark/

Why would OWE be needed? Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE) will bring security to open networks.

Guest enterprise networks can feel more safe when browsing the web. Public spaces are less susceptible to sniffing since traffic is encrypted. Even the coffee shop can be safer. Remember the days of Firesheep? A Firefox browser extension allowed someone to hijack someone else’s Facebook, Amazon, and Twitter accounts. This was done over an open Wi-Fi connection.

We will see more support for OWE as newer access points are released by vendors. Currently, Cisco and Aruba support OWE with the latest version of firmware.

Many devices do not have support for it yet. The one device I’ve tested is the Samsung S10 which connected seamlessly to an OWE capable network.

One thing to keep in mind, because the Wi-Fi network is open, OWE will not be able to verify the access point you’re connecting to is indeed the organization’s broadcasting the SSID. There’s still more caution we must consider with open Wi-Fi networks but we can now begin encrypting our communications with open Wi-Fi networks.

Ask your Wi-Fi vendor if they are serious about Wi-Fi security and when they will support Opportunistic Wireless Encryption.

If you want to see some technical details around OWE check out these links:

Is It Foolish To Upgrade to Wi-Fi 6?

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When was the last time you upgraded your wireless access points? You probably have received a call from your sales representative, informing you about all the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 and the problems it is going to solve. 

Meraki MR45 – Wi-Fi 6 access point

Wi-Fi 6 is very new. The biggest benefits will be seen on Wi-Fi 6 capable devices. Do you have Wi-Fi 6 devices on your network? At the time this was published (August 2019) there is only the Samsung S10 and an Intel AX200 card. Is it foolish to upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 today? I think so. Here’s why..

Wi-Fi 6, or as it is defined 802.11ax, is not a standard yet. It is still in draft form. Any devices and access points that are currently selling are considered pre-802.11ax. There may be some Wi-Fi 6 features not supported on these devices. 

The touted speed increases that have been mentioned are theoretical. There’s math involved to come up with the highest speed numbers which, in an enterprise environment, you may not be able to see for a number of reasons. We have not seen this tested in real environments yet to determine a realistic point of view.

Cisco C9115, C9117, and C9120 Wi-Fi 6 access points

Not to mention, Wi-Fi 6 is not about speed. It is about efficiency in the radio frequencies utilized. As those efficiencies are realized we may see an increase in speed, especially in high-density environments. But that is yet to be validated. 

Without any tangible results from real environments, it can be foolish to upgrade just based on the marketing numbers we see from the vendors. 

My recommendation is to acquire a few Wi-Fi 6 access points and test them. Find out how it works with your devices and if you do have Wi-Fi 6 clients, test out those Wi-Fi 6 features. Test as much as you can before deploying company-wide. 

The real question is how much risk are you able to take in by deploying Wi-Fi 6 today?

Wi-Fi 6: What It Means To You

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Announced October 3, 2018, a new name for Wi-Fi was created. Wi-Fi 6 is the new designation for 802.11ax.

Traditionally, Wi-Fi was designated under its standard:

  • Wi-Fi 6 is identified with 802.11ax (currently 802.11ax is in draft)
  • Wi-Fi 6E (extended) identifies access points and devices supporting 6 GHz
  • Wi-Fi 5 is identified with 802.11ac
  • Wi-Fi 4 is identified with 802.11n

The new naming convention is to help provide a method that’s easy to understand. The latest number will reference the latest wireless technology.

Wi-Fi 6 nomenclature was created by the Wi-Fi Alliance, an organization which certifies devices under certain wireless certification programs.

What Does This Mean?

Moving forward, you will begin to see new designations on wireless devices such as laptops, mobile phones, tablets, and access points. If it is built on the 802.11ax draft, then it is Wi-Fi 6.

Purchasing wireless devices will become easier for those who are not necessarily up-to-date with the technology lingo.

But take caution on trusting a device is Wi-Fi 6. 802.11ax is not a standard yet. It is still a draft at the time of this writing.

When considering your next upgrade, think about how many clients are at least Wi-Fi 5 (there are no Wi-Fi 6 clients yet). Wi-Fi 6 access points may look appealing but they are based on the draft of 802.11ax. It may be bleeding edge technology, or maybe future proofing but 802.11ax has not been fully tested with APs and clients yet.

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) will bring efficiency to Wi-Fi and hopefully better user experience.

I do not recommend upgrading any Wi-Fi 6 access points yet. Purchase a Wi-Fi 6 access point and test it before deploying it to production.

5 Challenges in Retail Wi-Fi

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In-store Wi-Fi connectivity is now an expectation from customers and associates. Associates rely on Wi-Fi to complete sales and search inventory supplies so they can provide the best customer service possible. Customers carry a mobile phone in their pocket and conduct their own research before making a purchase.

How can retail stores evolve in a highly competitive industry and leverage the best of both worlds, e-commerce and brick-and-mortar? In-store Wi-Fi must be leveraged for both business operations and customer service.

Download the FREE PDF resource: 5 Challenges in Retail Wi-Fi

1. Reliable Network For Associates and Customers

Improving business efficiency through the use of technology requires a reliable Wi-Fi network. Every store is different. The layout, point-of-entries, and the types of customers can drive different results. We do know coverage is needed throughout the entire store.

The biggest mistake is having an inadequate Wi-Fi design. Ignoring this critical step is designing for failure. With every store having different characteristics, a design is necessary for a successful deployment of Wi-Fi services.

With an excellent Wi-Fi design, associate efficiency increases. Associates can better assist customers by having information on-hand, such as knowing inventory information. Customer service is increased through technology advances within the store.

According to research conducted by ¹IHL, retail stores have claimed a 48% positive impact on customer loyalty when associates leverage Wi-Fi. This lead to a 3.4% increase in sales.

2. Retail Customer Analytics

Gaining a competitive edge in a mobile first world means standing out from the rest. Retail stores must be superior in service by understanding customer behavior.

Improving customer service means focusing on the right key metrics. Metrics such as peak customer time periods or where customers spend their time in the store. This type of information can be gathered from the Wi-Fi network.

Woman carrying a mobile phone in retail.

These metrics lead to further understanding of customer behavior. Take advantage of Wi-Fi infrastructure to get a big picture of traffic patterns. Which ingress and egress points in the store are customers walking through? End caps and featured products can be strategically placed.

How many customers are walking through the store and where do they dwell the most? Foot traffic can determine the popularity of the store along with the path they take within the store. Where do customers stop to look at products? This type of information can feed into marketing and sales efforts. Information which can be gathered because everyone has a Wi-Fi capable phone. The next step in leveraging highly valuable Wi-Fi metrics using personalized messaging.

Location-based services dashboard for retail.
Mist dashboard showing location-based services analytics.

3. Customer Engagement

Wi-Fi location-based services provide a way to increase customer engagement and improve customer loyalty. Customer frustration can be eliminated if an in-store app provided wayfinding directions to a product they’re looking for without ever needing to speak to an associate.

As the customer browses the store, Wi-Fi location-based services can customize in-store displays with messaging aimed towards products that customer may be interested in.

Proximity messaging and marketing can be very powerful. Leveraging location-based services and virtual Bluetooth Low Energy (vBLE) Beacons can enable the marketing and sales teams to guide very specific customers towards a sale. With virtual beacons using Mist solutions, there’s no need to deploy hundreds of battery powered devices.

4. Customer Loyalty

Wi-Fi can help retail stores find new meaningful ways to thrive. IHL conducted a survey and found Wi-Fi had a big impact on customer loyalty. 28% of retailers reported an increase in customer loyalty due to in-store Wi-Fi helping to increase sales by 2%.

Customers expect retail establishments to offer free Wi-Fi. There’s no doubt, customers are searching for competitive pricing or possibly using it Wi-Fi as an influencer of the store’s products. Social media has created a new wave of influencer marketing.

Retail companies are looking for ways to monetize a Wi-Fi installation which is the wrong approach. By offering free Wi-Fi to customers, direct them to download the store mobile app and collect their email address to tie a loyal customer to a mobile phone. A loyalty program can be used to send proximity messages for special in-store deals.

Women shopping with Retail Wi-Fi

5. Lean IT Staff

Planning and deploying a robust Wi-Fi infrastructure is no easy task. It requires a lot of planning and design. Having a solution that can scale is important for lean IT teams supporting hundreds of retail stores. Ease of management needs to be simple, straightforward, and flexible.

A retail Wi-Fi solution needs automation in both deployment and troubleshooting. IT cannot be the roadblock in rolling out multiple stores quickly. By automating the configuration and deployment, IT can begin focusing on other important matters.

Retail Wi-Fi root cause analysis using Mist.
Wi-Fi root cause analysis with Mist.

When it comes to troubleshooting, the Wi-Fi solution should be able to narrow down the issue to a potential root cause allowing IT to take action instantly. When the Wi-Fi solution performs event correlation and anomaly detection, it makes the lives of IT more easier. Issues within stores can be identified and resolved quickly. Service level expectations can be set and when the threshold is breached, IT can be made notified of the exact issue immediately. This eliminates wasted time in chasing false positives and false information.

Learn you can leverage Wi-Fi in your retail business with the Wi-Fi experts at Packet6.

¹https://www.earthlinkbusiness.com/_static/_files/_pdfs/Impact_of_Store_Networks_on_Customer_Experience.pdf
²https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/study-finds-28-of-retailers-report-increased-customer-loyalty-due-to-in-store-wifi-300019094.html