Recently on EDGE360, we explored how the Cisco
Meraki program is a great resource for Value-Added Resellers (VARs)
that are looking to expand IT offerings without adding in-house resources. One
focus of the Meraki program is Wi-Fi 6, which is coming at a pivotal time for
the industry and promises to be better than previous Wi-Fi standards.
Wi-Fi 6 is paving the way for innovative technologies, such as virtual reality
and autonomous vehicles, as well as improving everyday connectivity. VARs that
are exploring Meraki should become familiar with Wi-Fi 6 and its unique
benefits. In a recent Cisco
blog, the author took a look at the top three benefits of Wi-Fi 6.
Better Performance
Many public venues, such as college campuses, local governments, and event spaces
have begun offering free public Wi-Fi. Hundreds or thousands of users put a
massive strain on these networks, which aren’t designed to handle such large
amounts of traffic. This often results in a subpar experience for the end users.
With Wi-Fi 6, this will no longer be a problem thanks to better high-density performance. Networks will be more resilient, faster, and able to connect more devices.
Faster speeds
Wi-Fi 6 will deliver faster speeds across all devices by leveraging higher
throughputs. With a new set of software and services, augmented reality and
SaaS apps will be a reality. From 2017 to 2022, the total amount of internet
traffic will be higher than in the previous 32 years, making the need for Wi-Fi
6 apparent.
Wi-Fi 6 also will be useful in a typical household. According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the average household with two teenagers will have to support around 50 internet-connected devices by 2022.
Energy efficiency
As phones have gotten faster, with better cameras, and larger screens,
their battery life has suffered. Wi-Fi 6 promotes greater energy efficiency by
reducing battery drain on devices connected to a wireless network. With a
feature called Target Wake Time (TWT), a schedule is set for sending data
packets to those connected – saving energy and data by allowing devices to
settle into lower power mode. TWT can help devices consume up to 67% less
power.
Interested in learning more about Wi-Fi 6? Join one of the upcoming Meraki trainings. The next session is set for 2:30 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday, July 17.
