And how do these latest technologies impact your customers’ smart homes?
updated August 6, 2021
Now that 5G cellular technology is more widespread, your customers may be wondering about what’s next when it comes to their home’s broadband Internet. The answer is WiFi 6, but they may not know it exists. And if they do, they may be wondering if there’s going to be a head-to-head contest of WiFi 6 vs 5G.
They may also be wondering:
- Just what is WiFi 6 and what’s so special about it?
- Will 5G replace WiFi 6 so they drop their broadband and use 5G cellular hot spots instead?
- Is there some way to integrate 5G with a home’s Internet service? Is there 5G WiFi?
- Can 5G cellular interfere with WiFi?
- And how does this all impact the use of smart home technology?
These are all great questions. So, let’s dive in and find out the answers.
What is WiFi 6? And what are its advantages?
WiFi 6 is the next generation of wireless technology. The WiFi Alliance, keeper of WiFi standards and protocols, renamed WiFi technologies to be more consumer friendly. They ditched all those letters that followed 802.11 and created more understandable terms.
- 802.11n = WiFi 4
- 802.11ac = WiFi 5
- 802.11ax = WiFi 6
When broadband was first introduced, most homes only had one or two devices that needed access to the Internet.
Now, however, it’s a very different story.
According to Statista, today’s home connects an average of 10.37 devices on their home’s Internet network.
Furthermore, by 2025, Parks Associates estimates there will be up to 20 Internet-connected devices in the average US home!
WiFi 6 was developed to allow more devices to connect at once. It’s also much faster, so a home can simultaneously stream 4K video, game, and use a wide variety of smart home products like locks, thermostats, appliances, etc.—all without interference and less lag.
WiFi 6 also enables mesh technology. This helps distribute WiFi more equally to every room, using repeaters. Mesh provides even coverage throughout a home, eliminating dead spots.
So, WiFi 6 was created with the smart home in mind.
But wait, there’s more!
First off, there’s a catch about WiFi 6.The router and all the connected devices need be WiFi 6 compatible to benefit from the new technology. This holds true for any future versions, too.
Fortunately, WiFi 6 is backward compatible. This means devices not primed for the new technology will still work. But if your customers want to take advantage of WiFi 6’s benefits, they’re going to need to do their homework and buy devices that will work with it.
This is very similar to the dilemma facing cell phone users. They need a 5G-compatible cell phone in order to take advantage of the faster speed of 5G networks. A 4G LTE phone can’t reap the benefits of 5G. But, like WiFi 6, 5G is backward compatible.
Secondly, there’s a new WiFi 6 stranger in town. Tom’s Guide notes the FCC has approved WiFi 6E.
What’s the difference between the two?
As whistleout.com explains:
- Both use orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) which allows more Internet frequencies for specific activities
- They both have potential speeds of 9,600 Mbps
- Both use 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands
- But WiFi 6E (E means expanded) has added a new radio band—6 GHz
This significantly reduces congestion and has less latency issues, something gamers will love.
WiFi 6E also has up to seven, nonoverlapping 160 MHz channels. Cnet.com explains it this way:
“In layman’s terms, if the 2.4GHz band is a one-lane country highway and the 5GHz band is a three-lane interstate, picture the 6GHz band as a shiny, new seven-lane superhighway, and only 6E devices get access to the onramp.”
Tom’s Guide also indicates that WiFi 7 is just around the corner. And that it will blow WiFi 6 out of the water.
WiFi 6E routers are already trickling out. WiFi 7 could debut in 2023 or 2024.
Will 5G replace WiFi 6? Is it really WiFi 6 vs 5G?
5G is a cellular technology, designed primarily for phones and devices on the move.
- Companies use SIM cards to connect to their cell towers
- They also license specific frequency bands from the FCC and then pass all these costs along to their customers via the monthly subscription fee
- On many plans, if usage exceeds a certain amount, speeds will be slowed
- Data charges are often in play, especially when it comes to mobile hotspots
WiFi 6 is a short-range technology used in the home.
- It is based on the commercial computer industry
- The router is stationary
- 2.4 GHz has the longest reach but is slower while 5 GHz is faster but doesn’t go as far within a home
- Generally, WiFi has no data restrictions, just speed restrictions
So, the answer is, no. It is not WiFi 6 vs 5G. One will not replace the other. These technologies complement each other very well to provide access to the Internet wherever the user might be.
Can’t I just drop broadband and power everything from 5G hot spots?
It’s an understandable temptation. And folks have tried it.
The only way it works well is if there are only one or two devices that use Internet connectivity.
But there are disadvantages when there are multiple devices in play, as laid out by satelliteinternet.com:
- Mobile hotspots have a range limitation of around 30 ft.
- Almost all hotspot plans have a data limit; this is different from a phone’s typical data rate plan
- Providers can slow speeds after reaching the monthly hotspot data limit
- Can use a lot of data over the course of a month; this can max out most plans
- Drains the phone’s battery more quickly
- Can incur overage charges for data use
- Some mobile carriers might even terminate the contract for consistent data overage
- Cell speeds or reception may not be as reliable as a dedicated home Internet service
So, if you have customers looking to consolidate billing and cut costs, ask how many devices connect to the Internet. If it’s more than two, mobile hotspots as a replacement for their Internet provider are not a good option for them. It pretty much rules out use in a smart home.
Is there some way to integrate 5G cell signals with a home’s WiFi system? Is there 5G WiFi?
Yes!
A number of cellular providers offer Internet connectivity to homes, using their 5G networks. It should be noted that the service is not available in all markets.
Current, big-name providers include Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T.
So, what does it take to set this up? According to Digital Trends:
“Setting up 5G home internet basically involves getting a new kind of router that gets its service from 5G instead of from a cable and then converts that signal into a Wi-Fi network.”
Allconnect.com spells out the physical components:
- Outdoor antenna installed on top of a home and placed line of sight to a 5G base station
- 5G router that converts 5G radio waves into WiFi
- Antenna power supply cable that connects the antenna to the router
- At least one WiFi extender to eliminate possible dead spots
What is not clear is whether the special router is WiFi 6 compatible. And whether a mesh WiFi repeater system is possible.
So, warn your customers to investigate thoroughly if they want WiFi 6.
How fast is 5G WiFi? Speeds will vary from provider to provider. But many feel it is on par with fiber—and may well be cheaper.
Allconnect also points out that even if you use the same cellular provider for both cell service and home Internet service, the plans will be different.
Can 5G cellular interfere with WiFi?
Since cellular phones use licensed spectrum bands that are long range and a home’s WiFi uses unlicensed ones over much shorter distances, you’d think this would not be a problem. But what many don’t realize is that 5G also allows the use of certain unlicensed bands.
According to techxplore.com:
“To improve bandwidth without breaking the bank, these providers have begun to also use the unlicensed spectrum via cellular networks using a mode called licensed assisted access (LAA), which operates on the same bands used for Wi-Fi.”
They report a group at the University of Chicago ran some experiments on campus to see how well this shared use of unlicensed spectrums, called coexistence, worked out.
“By accessing multiple networks simultaneously, the group found that competition decreased performance—reducing the amount of data transmitted, the speed of transmission, and the signal quality.”
“This competition was particularly detrimental to Wi-Fi. When LAA was also in active use, data transmitted by Wi-Fi users decreased up to 97%. Conversely, LAA data only exhibited a 35% decrease when Wi-Fi was also in use.”
Is this a widespread problem? No, not yet. Could it be? It’s possible. Network protocols would need to be changed to reduce or prevent interference in those shared, coexistence spectrums.
WiFi 6 vs 5G: How 5G and WiFi 6 impact the use of smart home technology
At the heart of nearly every smart home device is an app. The app enables a user’s smartphone to communicate with the device. To do this, the app uses the phone company’s cell network to reach the home’s Internet network to relay instructions, get updates, etc. So, both cellular and home Internet technologies are in play.
5G and WiFi 6 both support faster speeds and higher data rates. Both can support more connected devices. And both are used by IoT (Internet of Things) devices such as appliances that check in with their manufacturer, as well as by apps that are controlled by your customer, the end user.
Again, it’s not WiFi 6 vs 5G, its WiFi 6 and 5G. Both these technologies stand ready to support and optimize the increased use of smart home technologies.
However, 5G-compatible cell phones, WiFi 6-compatible routers, and WiFi 6-compatible connected devices are all needed before their impact on the smart home is fully realized.
Are you ready to sell WiFi 6?
To take advantage of WiFi 6’s many advantages, new home broadband products are required. Fortunately, as noted earlier, updates can be made hodge-podge thanks to backward compatibility. But the full effect can’t be realized till all products are literally on the same wavelength.
But the journey needs to start somewhere. Start your customers on the right path by upgrading their home’s WiFi with one or more of WiFi 6 and WiFi 6E routers and mesh networks sold by Petra.
Of course, we have a lot more to offer resellers than products. To discover all the services we can provide you, be sure to visit petra.com today!