WiFi 6E could be authorized in France from March 2021, with the release of the 6 GHz band. WiFi 6E is an extension of the WiFi 6 standard that uses more frequencies, including a band between 5,945 and 6,412 MHz.
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You don’t have a WiFi 6 router yet? WiFi 6E is coming! The two standards are in fact two variations of the same IEEE 802.11ax standard – which almost regrets the new “simplified” WiFi terminology, since we have to go back to the old formulations to see more clearly. But we digress …
WiFi 6E is basically WiFi 6: the E stands for Extended, for reflect the increased number of frequency rangess. What to do significantly increase speeds and reduce latency. Some manufacturers like Xiaomi are also starting to show the benefits of this technology.
WiFi 6E would be available in France and Europe from March
Without being able to profit from it, in Europe for the moment: it is indeed still that the necessary frequencies are released. And it is not that easy. The 6 GHz band is in fact very popular in France and in the rest of the European Union.
It can in fact be used both for part of the TNT Hertzian network and for the CBTC rail signaling system. The ANFR and its European counterparts have therefore decided to limit the use of the 6 GHz spectrum by WiFi 6E to avoid any interference problem.
Gold, everyone would be in agreement to move forward at this stage. And the various states are therefore no longer very far from releasing the missing frequency range. The ANFR explains for its part that it has validated the modifications to the national frequency band distribution table.
An order from the Prime Minister should quickly be issued, and the release of these frequencies in a harmonized European framework could take place as early as March. However, very few devices will be able to benefit from WiFi 6E for a few more years. It will indeed be necessary to have compatible routers.
But also smartphones with functionality. There are currently not many, unlike smartphones more soberly compatible with WiFi 6. We can notably mention the Galaxy S21 Ultra and the Xiaomi Mi 11.
