Despite the relatively few changes to the specification – Wi-Fi 6E is built on 802.11ax (802.11a) – it is vital to consider the broader implications of these changes. It is essential to take into account facts on the ground, such as existing switches, wires, and priority locations, when discussing Wi-Fi 6E and the 6GHz band. A greenfield (new building) deployment can be optimized for Wi-Fi 6E by optimizing the building infrastructure and network design.
Upgrades to Access Points (APs):
In order to add 6 GHz support in Wi-Fi 6E, you have to replace older access points with new ones. In an AP, a new radio chip is needed since the new spectrum is so broad that it cannot be viewed as an extension of the 5 GHz band. New enterprise APs supporting 6E, such as Aruba’s 635 AP, will come equipped with three radios for simultaneous tri-band operation.
In addition to accessing a new 6 GHz band, Wi-Fi 6E APs will provide more than twice the capacity of existing APs with contiguous spectrum and wider channels (160 MHz). Furthermore, since there are no older Wi-Fi devices, greenfield operation can be assumed and high performance is assured without backwards compatibility considerations or background co-channel interference from neighboring WLANs at 6 GHz.
Considerations for a Successful Wi-Fi 6E Deployment:
Upgrading a network involves replacing older access points across the entire network, so AP placement, backhaul bandwidth, and AP powering can be considered as network engineering factors. The decision must also be made as to which parts of the WLAN to prioritize for early deployment if the WLAN is to be upgraded in stages.
1. The Location of the WLAN:
Cable runs determine the location of the AP, and it is often expensive to move it. Consequently, a tri-band AP that replaces an older AP is almost always mounted in the same place. Recently designed enterprise WLANs, however, target coverage between 1500-2000 square feet (140-190 square meters) per access point for a more dense network than previous models. Access points and client devices are close to each other, ensuring high data rates.
2. Edge Switches:
Considering that the new generation of enterprise APs will be tri-band and the 6 GHz spectrum is quite wide to deploy 80 or 160 MHz channels, the amount of traffic passing through each AP will be much higher than for earlier equipment. As more Wi-Fi 6E-capable clients access the network, gigabit Ethernet backhaul is likely to be a bottleneck in the future, so network engineers should calculate their expected traffic per AP and consider upgrading edge switches to Smart Rate (2.5 or 5 Gbps) Ethernet, although in many cases they can wait until the 6GHz band is more widely used.
3. Power: The Third Factor
With three radios, enterprise-class APs are typically rated for around 25.5 W of power, which is higher than earlier models. Switch upgrades to PoE++ may not always be necessary.
4. Staging Upgrades:
As part of a staged upgrade program, many WLAN designers will also have to decide which buildings or areas to upgrade first. Here, it’s important to consider where Wi-Fi 6E benefits can be most effectively applied. Wi-Fi 6E is expected to first appear on high-end smartphones and laptops, so considering where users with these devices will sit and work may be more helpful than considering areas where people stand or walk.
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