(Wi-Fi 6 Technology)

A
Seminar Report
submitted
in partial fulfilment
for the award of the Degree of
Bachelor of Technology
in Department of Electronics and Communication . Engineering

Seminar Co-ordinator Submitted By:

Dr. Anurag Garg Abhay Bansal
Head of Department (ECE) University Roll No.:
21EEAEC001

Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering

Engineering College Ajmer

Bikaner Technical University

2025
 Candidate’s Declaration
I hereby declare that the work, which is being presented in this report, entitled “WiFi 6 – The
Next Generation of Wireless Connectivity” in partial fulfilment for the award of Degree of
“Bachelor of Technology” in Dept. of Electronics and Communication Engineering, and
submitted to the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering,
Engineering College Ajmer, Bikaner Technical University is a record of my own
investigations carried under the Guidance of Dr. U.S Modani, Department of Electronics and
Communication Engineering, Engineering College Ajmer.

I have not submitted the matter presented in this report anywhere for the award of any other
Degree.

Abhay Bansal
Electronics and Communication Engineering,
University Roll No.: 21EEAEC001
Engineering College Ajmer,
 ACKNOWLEDGMENET

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who contributed to the successful
completion of this seminar report.
Firstly, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Dr. U.S Modani, my guide, for their invaluable
guidance, support, and encouragement throughout the preparation of this report. Their expertise
and constructive feedback were instrumental in refining my work.
I would also like to thank Dr. Anurag Garg, our seminar coordinator, for their continuous
support, timely assistance, and for providing a well-structured framework to conduct this
seminar.
Furthermore, I am grateful to all the teaching staff of The Electronics and Communication
Department of Engineering College, Ajmer for their insightful lectures and encouragement,
which have helped me enhance my knowledge and skills.
Lastly, I express my appreciation to my peers, friends, and family for their unwavering support
and motivation during this journey.

Abhay Bansal
(21EEAEC001)
 ABSTRACT

In the past few decades, there's been a massive increase in the number of Internet users, gadgets,
and Internet connectivity-all around the world. These factors, combined with digital
transformation in all industries worldwide and increasing utilization of bandwidth-demanding
applications, have made significant contributions to the condition for the quicker and universal
wireless network connection. To tackle these problems, the next generation Wi-Fi needs to
address the problem of low efficiency of the whole Wi-Fi network resulting from the access of
more terminals. From 2014, the IEEE 802.11 working group started to address this challenge
and anticipated to release 802.11ax also known as Wi-Fi 6 in 2019. The key advancements in
WiFi 6 include Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Multi-User
Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), Basic Service Set (BSS) Coloring, and
Target Wake Time (TWT). OFDMA improves spectral efficiency by allowing multiple
devices to share the same channel simultaneously, reducing latency. MU-MIMO enhances the
ability to serve multiple devices with increased throughput. BSS Coloring minimizes
interference in crowded environments, while TWT optimizes battery life for IoT devices by
scheduling wake-up times efficiently. Such a new standard is going to introduce technologies
like uplink Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), (OFDMA) Orthogonal frequency division
multiple access, and higher-order coding 1024-QAM to resolve network capacity as well as
transmission effectiveness problems in terms of spectrum resource use and multi-user access.
One of the objectives of Wi-Fi 6 is to enhance the regular user throughput by at least four times
as well as increasing the number of concurrent users by higher than three times within the
dense-user environment in comparison with Wi-Fi 5. Wi-Fi 6 is the next generation technology
that is based on the IEEE 802.11ax standard. Such technology will allow the connectivity of
next-generation Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi 6 will provide the coverage, capacity, and performance to
efficiently meet the growing and changing use of Wi-Fi technology. Wi-Fi 6 is a brand-new
jargon to readily understand Wi-Fi networking devices as well as its connectivity. This study
will examine the various key characteristics and the new generational approach of Wi-Fi 6
 CONTENTS
Certificate ..................................................................................................................................i
Acknowledgement.................................................................................................................... ii
Abstract.................................................................................................................................... iii
List of Figures ….......................................................................................................................
List of Tables ….........................................................................................................................
Chapter 1: Introduction …........................................................................................................1
1.1 Heading1 …........................................................................................................................1
Chapter 2: ……………………. …..........................................................................................10
2.1 Heading1 ….......................................................................................................................13
Appendix …............................................................................................................................40
References …....................................................................................................................50
 LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. 1.1 (Name of figure) …................................................................................................................10

Fig. 1.2 (Name of figure) …................................................................................................................11

Fig. 2.1 (Name of figure) …................................................................................................................15

 LIST OF TABLES

Table 1.1 (Name of table) …................................................................................................................10

Table 2.1 (Name of table) …................................................................................................................15

Table 3.1 (Name of table) …................................................................................................................20

 Chapter 1
INTRODUCTION

WiFi-6, also known as IEEE 802.11ax, is the latest generation of wireless networking
technology, succeeding WiFi-5 (802.11ac). It was designed to improve speed, efficiency, and
capacity in congested environments such as stadiums, offices, and smart homes. WiFi-6 brings
significant advancements in wireless connectivity, ensuring better user experiences with
enhanced data rates, reduced latency, and increased network efficiency. It provides superior
performance by optimizing bandwidth usage and improving communication between multiple
devices.

WiFi-6 introduces key advancements such as OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division

Multiple Access), MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output), and Target
Wake Time (TWT) to improve network performance, reduce latency, and enhance power
efficiency. With higher data rates, better security through WPA3 encryption, and improved
network management, WiFi-6 is set to revolutionize wireless communication, making it more
reliable and future-ready for evolving digital needs.
Wi-Fi 6 promises to provide Better Throughput, lower latency, Higher Density, greater
capacity, Enhanced coverage, Improved Determinism, Network slicing, Multi-Access Edge
Computing, and improved security. With the anticipated increase in data needs that range from
mission-critical to huge machine connectivity, deployment of Wi-Fi 6 has boosted expectations
that this will open up new possibilities for manufacturing business models. Technological
innovation has been driving numerous uses for Wi-Fi to market and facilitated developing
opportunities for example in the virtual reality as well as high-definition telepresence.
Prospects to link everybody and everything is rising. As with earlier generations, Wi-Fi 6 also
known as 802.11ax will enhance high-density performance and deliver quicker throughput.
Additionally, the new generation of Wi-Fi will enhance normal speed as well as concentration
improvements with the new functionality designed specifically for the technology trends of the
foreseeable future. Wi-Fi networks of the foreseeable future need to be quick and effective to
adapt improved client density, high-level throughput requirements, as well as a wide range of

1
new applications. Wi-Fi 6 provides several new enhancements to make it the top-performing
set of wireless protocols yet created. Wi-Fi 6 will not only improve the overall performance,
although it is intended to perform effectively in real-world circumstances.

1.1 Key Technologies of 802.11ax

Feature 802.11ac 802.11ax

Supported. OFDMA is a multi-user version of the OFDM digital
modulation scheme. It groups subcarriers to form Resource Units
OFDMA Not supported
(RUs) and then allocates the RUs to implement concurrent
transmission
for multiple users at multiple addresses.
Only Downlink Both Downlink and Uplink are supported.
MU-MIMO is
supported.
Not supported Supported. 1024-QAM is a more-efficient, higher-order
1024QAM modulation
scheme.
Supported. BSS coloring allows a device to distinguish the
Spatial transmissions of its own Wi-Fi network from those of the adjacent
Reuse (SR) Not supported
networks.
The transmit power and Power Detect (PD) threshold can be
dynamically
adjusted to increase SR.
Target Wake Not supported Supported. TWT reduces power consumption and media
Time (TWT) access
competition.
GI: 0.4µs/0.8µs GI: 0.8 µs, 1.6 µs or 3.2 µs
Long Symbol Symbol duration:
OFDM duration: 3.2µs 12.8 µs
symbol

Dual Carrier
Modulation Single Supported. One signal is concurrently transmitted over two
(DCM) carrier subcarriers to achieve diversity.
modulation

Supported. When the distance between AP and STA reaches a

Extended Not supported certain value, the AP and STA negotiate to transmit signals
Range over smaller
(ER) spectrum to expand coverage.
Table 1.1 Key Technologies of 802.11ax

2
Fig 1.1 Key 802.11ax Technologies and Corresponding Scenarios

3
 Chapter 2

INTRODUCTION to IEEE802.11 STANDARDS

2.1Development of IEEE802.11 Standards

Wi-Fi is a short-range wireless access technology that converts signals from wired to wireless
based on the IEEE 802.11 series protocols. It has become the preferred way for users to access
the Internet both in the home and at work. The WFA forecasts that by 2022, nearly 400 million
Wi-Fi devices be serving the world, carrying more than half of the global data traffic. Such
achievements are not possible without the continuous evolution of the Wi-Fi technology.
802.11b was the first widely accepted Wi-Fi standard, followed by 802.11a, 802.11 g, 802.11n
and 802.11ac . The evolution of these five Wi-Fi generations mainly revolved around increasing
the theoretical rate, that is, the throughput in a high Signal Noise Ratio (SNR) environment, to
meet the growing bandwidth demand. As new services such as smart homes, video
conferencing and AR/VR gain popularity, Wi-Fi networks begin to see congestion thanks to the
increasing number of smart devices. That makes boosting spectral efficiency more of an issue
than increasing the theoretical rate for the next Wi-Fi generation, 802.11ax, to address as it
seeks to provide access for more Stations (STAs).
In terms of increasing the theoretical rate, 802.11ax inherits the 8x8 Multiple-Input
Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology of 802.11ac while also providing higher-order 1024-
QAM modulation and supporting long Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM)
symbols to improve throughput. To improve spectral efficiency, 802.11ax innovatively
introduces the Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology while
still using 8*8 MU-MIMO to implement spatial diversity. Although the theoretical rate of
802.11ax is only 37% higher than that of 802.11ac, the per-user throughput of 802.11ax in
dense environments is expected to be at least four times higher than that of 802.11ac due to
more efficient spectral utilization and because of improvements designed for intensive
deployment. As for the design of its operating bands, 802.11ax adjusts the applicable bands
from 1-6GHz to 1-7.125GHz. While compatible with the existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, it
also adds the 6GHz band with seven 160 MHz channels, thus opening up more possibilities for
the development of Wi-Fi technology in the future

4
 Figure 2.1 Evolution of the IEEE802.11 Standards

2.2 WFA Progress

802.11ax is the name assigned by the IEEE 802.11 standards organization of to the new-

generation WLAN standard. To facilitate the popularization of the new technology, the WFA

decided in October 2018 to name Wi-Fi generations in “Wi-Fi + number” format. When users

use Wi-Fi, they can know the technology standard and rate level according to the number, just

as they know the cellular network standard they use according to the 3G/4G sticker on their

mobile phones. In the new format, Wi-Fi 5 corresponds to 802.11ac and Wi-Fi 6 to 802.11ax.

On September 16, 2019, the WFA announced the launch of the Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 program.

Soon after that, ZTE's CPE product, the ZXHN F2886S, passed Wi-Fi 6 certification, becoming

the industry’s first XGS-PON ONT that completed Wi-Fi 6 certification and supports 10GE

and IoT interfaces as well as the first ONT from China that passed WPA3 security testing. The

ZXHN F2886S has won full recognition from authoritative institutions for its network capacity,

bandwidth use efficiency, and Wi-Fi security protection. It has become a frontrunner and

benchmark in the industry.

5
Wi-Fi 6 technology supports up to eight spatial streams. Because the number of spatial

streams is proportional to the maximum theoretical rate, we can calculate that, based on the

theoretical rate of a single spatial stream, Wi-Fi 6 can achieve a 9.6Gbps theoretical rate

when operating at 160MHz@5GHz.

IEEE 802 Standards (Networking & Communications)

These standards define network technologies like Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and Bluetooth.

• IEEE 802.3 – Ethernet (Wired networking)

• IEEE 802.11 – Wi-Fi (Wireless LAN)

o 802.11a – 5 GHz, up to 54 Mbps

o 802.11b – 2.4 GHz, up to 11 Mbps

o 802.11g – 2.4 GHz, up to 54 Mbps

o 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) – MIMO, up to 600 Mbps

o 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) – 5 GHz, up to several Gbps

o 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6 & 6E) – High-efficiency Wi-Fi

• IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX) was once considered a 4G alternative but lost to LTE.
• IEEE 802.21 (Handover) & IEEE 802.22 (WRAN) help with network transitions and
rural connectivity.

6
 2.3 802.11ax Rates

The 802.11ax standard supports up to eight spatial streams and 160MHz bandwidth.

Data Rate (in Mb/s)

MCS Modulat Codin 160 MHz

DCM 20 MHz 40 MHz 80 MHz
Index i on g Channels Channels Channels Channels
Type Rate
0.8us 1.6us 3.2us 0.8us 1.6us 3.2us 0.8us 1.6us 3.2us 0.8us 1.6us 3.2us
GI GI GI GI GI GI GI GI GI GI GI GI

1 1/2 4.3 4 3.6 8.6 8.1 7.3 18 17 15.3 36 34 30.6

0 BPSK
0 1/2 8.6 8.1 7.3 17.2 16.3 14.6 36 34 30.6 72.1 68.1 61.3

1 1/2 8.6 8.1 7.3 17.2 16.3 14.6 36 34 30.6 72.1 68.1 61.3
1 QPSK
0 1/2 17.2 16.3 14.6 34.4 32.5 29.3 72.1 68.1 61.3 144.1 136.1 122.5

2 N/A QPSK 3/4 25.8 24.2 21.9 51.6 48.8 43.9 108.1 102.1 91.9 216.2 204.2 183.8

1 1/2 17.2 16.3 14.6 34.4 32.5 29.3 72.1 68.1 61.3 144.1 136.1 122.5
3 16-QAM
0 1/2 34.4 32.5 29.3 68.8 65 58.5 144.1 136.1 122.5 288.2 272.2 245

1 3/4 25.8 24.4 21.9 51.6 48.8 43.9 108.1 102.1 91.9 216.2 204.2 183.8
4 16-QAM
0 3/4 51.6 48.8 43.9 103.2 97.5 87.8 216.2 204.2 183.8 432.4 408.3 367.5

5 N/A 64-QAM 2/3 68.8 65 58.5 137.6 130 117 288.2 272.2 245 576.5 544.4 490

6 N/A 64-QAM 3/4 77.4 73.1 65.8 154.9 146.3 131.6 324.3 306.3 275.6 648.5 612.5 551.3

7 N/A 64-QAM 5/6 86 81.3 73.1 172.1 162.5 146.3 360.3 340.3 306.3 720.6 680.6 612.5

8 N/A 256-QAM 3/4 103.2 97.5 87.8 206.5 195 175.5 432.4 408.3 367.5 864.7 816.7 735

9 N/A 256-QAM 5/6 114.7 108.3 97.5 229.4 216.7 195 480.4 453.7 408.3 960.7 907.4 816.6

1024-QA 1080. 1020.

10 N/A 3/4 129 121.9 109.7 258.1 243.8 219.4 540.4 510.4 459.4 918.8
M 9 8

1024-QA 1134. 1020.

11 N/A 5/6 143.4 135.4 121.9 286.8 270.8 243.8 600.4 567.1 510.4 1201
M 2 8
Table 2-1 Modulation and Coding Schemes of a Single Spatial Stream

7
 Chapter 3

STANDARD BACKGROUND OF WIFI TECHNOLOGY

Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity) has revolutionized wireless communication, enabling seamless

internet connectivity without physical cables. Since its inception, Wi-Fi has undergone multiple
evolutionary upgrades, each introducing significant enhancements in speed, efficiency, and
network reliability. The development of Wi-Fi standards is governed by the Institute of
Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) under the 802.11 family of standards, which
define the protocols for wireless local area networks (WLANs). Wi-Fi technology has evolved
significantly since its inception in 1997, bringing improvements in speed, efficiency, security,
and connectivity. Each new generation of Wi-Fi has introduced advancements to address the
increasing demand for faster internet, seamless device connectivity, and reduced network
congestion. Below is a detailed breakdown of the evolution of Wi-Fi from the first standard to
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).

Fig 3.1 The Standard Backgrounds of Wi-Fi technology

8
3.1. Early Wi-Fi Standards (Wi-Fi 1 to Wi-Fi 3)
802.11 (Wi-Fi 1) – 1997
• The first Wi-Fi standard, introduced by IEEE.
• Operated on the 2.4 GHz frequency band.
• Provided a maximum speed of 2 Mbps.
• Used Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) for communication.
• Limited range and high interference issues.
802.11b (Wi-Fi 2) – 1999
• Improved speed up to 11 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band.
• Used DSSS modulation for better stability.
• Gained popularity for home and business wireless networking.
• High interference due to shared 2.4 GHz band usage.
802.11a (Wi-Fi 3) – 1999
• Operated on the 5 GHz band, reducing interference.
• Maximum speed of 54 Mbps, significantly higher than 802.11b.
• Used Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) for improved
efficiency.
• Shorter range compared to 802.11b due to higher frequency attenuation.
3.2. Introduction of High-Speed Wireless Standards (Wi-Fi 4 and Wi-Fi 5)
802.11g – 2003
• Combined the best features of 802.11a and 802.11b.
• Operated in the 2.4 GHz band with a speed of 54 Mbps.
• Provided better backward compatibility with 802.11b.
• Faced interference issues due to reliance on the 2.4 GHz band.
802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) – 2009
• First Wi-Fi standard to support both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands (Dual-band).
• Introduced Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO), allowing multiple antennas
for increased speed and reliability.
• Maximum speed of 600 Mbps with 40 MHz channel bandwidth.
• Improved range and efficiency, making it widely adopted in home and enterprise
networks.

9
3.3. Modern High-Efficiency Wi-Fi Standards (Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6)
802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) – 2014
• Operated exclusively in the 5 GHz band.
• Maximum speed of 6.9 Gbps with 160 MHz channel bandwidth.
• Introduced Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), allowing simultaneous
communication with multiple devices.
• Improved wireless efficiency and reduced latency.
• Less interference but limited range compared to 2.4 GHz networks.
802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) – 2019
• Designed to improve network efficiency in high-density environments.
• Operates in 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands (Wi-Fi 6E extension).
• Maximum speed of 9.6 Gbps with 160 MHz bandwidth.
• Introduced Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA),
allowing multiple users to share bandwidth efficiently.
• BSS Coloring reduces interference in crowded networks.
• Target Wake Time (TWT) optimizes battery life for IoT and mobile devices.
• Ideal for smart homes, IoT applications, enterprise environments, and public Wi-Fi
hotspots.
3.4 Key Advancements in Wi-Fi Technology
1. Increased Speed and Bandwidth
• Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) introduced MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output), increasing data
transmission speeds.
• Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) introduced MU-MIMO (Multi-User MIMO) and wider channel
bandwidth (160 MHz), boosting maximum speeds up to 6.9 Gbps.
• Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) further enhanced speeds by supporting OFDMA (Orthogonal
Frequency Division Multiple Access) and MU-MIMO with a maximum speed of 9.6
Gbps.
2. Improved Network Efficiency and Reduced Congestion
• OFDMA (Wi-Fi 6) allows multiple devices to share bandwidth efficiently, reducing
network congestion.

10
 • BSS (Basic Service Set) Coloring (Wi-Fi 6) minimizes interference in crowded
environments by marking different networks with unique identifiers.
• Higher Frequency Bands:
• Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 use 5 GHz for better performance.
• Wi-Fi 6E introduces the 6 GHz band, reducing interference and allowing ultra-fast
speeds.
3. Enhanced Multi-Device Connectivity
• MU-MIMO (Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6) allows multiple devices to send and receive data
simultaneously.
• Wi-Fi 6 supports 8×8 MU-MIMO, increasing network capacity.
• Wi-Fi 7 (Upcoming) will support 16×16 MU-MIMO, further improving efficiency.
4. Better Power Efficiency for Devices
• Target Wake Time (TWT) (Wi-Fi 6) reduces power consumption by scheduling device
wake-up times, extending battery life for IoT and mobile devices.
• Wi-Fi 6E optimizes energy efficiency by reducing unnecessary transmissions.
5. Expanded Frequency Spectrum and Wider Channels
• Wi-Fi 6E utilizes the 6 GHz band, reducing congestion and increasing available
bandwidth.
• Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) will introduce 320 MHz channel width, doubling the current
maximum bandwidth.
6. Lower Latency for Real-Time Applications
• Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 are designed for low-latency applications like gaming, AR/VR,
and real-time streaming.
• OFDMA and multi-link operation (Wi-Fi 7) will further enhance responsiveness.
7. Stronger Security Measures
• WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) encryption enhances security, replacing WPA2.
• Enhanced protection against brute-force attacks and improved encryption methods
safeguard user data.
8. IoT and Smart Home Optimization
• Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E improve IoT connectivity by reducing power consumption and
network congestion.

11
 Wi-Fi IEEE Frequency Channel
Year Max Speed Key Features
Standard Version Band Bandwidth

First wireless
Wi-Fi 1 1997 802.11 2.4 GHz 2 Mbps 20 MHz
standard, low speed

Wider adoption,
Wi-Fi 2 1999 802.11b 2.4 GHz 11 Mbps 20 MHz
improved range

Higher speed,
Wi-Fi 3 1999 802.11a 5 GHz 54 Mbps 20 MHz reduced
interference

MIMO (Multiple
2.4 & 5 Input Multiple
Wi-Fi 4 2009 802.11n 600 Mbps 20/40 MHz
GHz Output) for better
efficiency

MU-MIMO (Multi-
20/40/80/160 User MIMO) for
Wi-Fi 5 2014 802.11ac 5 GHz 6.9 Gbps
MHz improved device
handling

OFDMA, BSS
2.4, 5 & 6 20/40/80/160
Wi-Fi 6 2019 802.11ax 9.6 Gbps Coloring, TWT for
GHz MHz
better efficiency

802.11ax Less congestion,

Wi-Fi 6E 2020 6 GHz 9.6 Gbps 160 MHz
(Extended) wider spectrum

Wi-Fi 7 2.4, 5 & 6 16x16 MU-MIMO,

2024 802.11be 46 Gbps 320 MHz
(Upcoming) GHz higher efficiency

Table 3.1 Comparison of Wi-Fi Standards

12
 Chapter 4
SECURITY PROTOCOLS FOR WIFI TECHNOLOGIES (Till
Wi-Fi 6)
Wi-Fi security has evolved alongside Wi-Fi technology to protect wireless networks from
unauthorized access, data breaches, and cyber threats. The Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA)
family has been the primary security framework, improving encryption, authentication, and
protection against attacks over time. Below is a detailed breakdown of Wi-Fi security
protocols from early WEP to the advanced WPA3 standard used in Wi-Fi 6.

4.1 Early Wi-Fi Security Standards

a) Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) – 1997

• Introduced with the first Wi-Fi standard (802.11, Wi-Fi 1).
• Used RC4 encryption with 40-bit and later 104-bit keys.
• Vulnerabilities:
o Weak encryption and predictable key sequences.
o Easily cracked using packet-sniffing tools.
o Susceptible to IV (Initialization Vector) attacks.
• Status: Deprecated and no longer considered secure.
4.2. Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) Family
b) WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) – 2003
• Introduced as an interim fix for WEP vulnerabilities in Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n).
• Used Temporal Key Integrity Protocol (TKIP) to enhance encryption.
• Added Message Integrity Check (MIC) to detect data modification.
• Vulnerabilities:
o TKIP still relied on RC4 encryption, which remained weak.
o Could be compromised using brute-force attacks.
• Status: Deprecated but still found in legacy devices.
c) WPA2 – 2004 (Wi-Fi 4 & Wi-Fi 5)
• Replaced TKIP with AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) using CCMP (Counter
Mode CBC-MAC Protocol).

13
 • Introduced 802.1X authentication, allowing enterprise-level security with RADIUS
servers.
• More robust encryption but susceptible to:
o Brute-force dictionary attacks (weak passwords).
o KRACK (Key Reinstallation Attack, 2017) – exploited flaws in the 4-way
handshake process.
• Status: Still widely used but being phased out for WPA3.
4.3. Advanced Wi-Fi Security: WPA3 (Wi-Fi 6)
d) WPA3 – 2018 (Introduced with Wi-Fi 6 – 802.11ax)
• Stronger encryption using Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) (also known
as Dragonfly Key Exchange), replacing WPA2's Pre-Shared Key (PSK).
• Protection against brute-force attacks by limiting repeated authentication attempts.
• Forward Secrecy ensures past data remains safe even if a password is compromised.
• Two Modes:
1. WPA3-Personal: Uses SAE for better password security.
2. WPA3-Enterprise: Supports 192-bit encryption for government and business
networks.
• Enhanced Open (OWE - Opportunistic Wireless Encryption):
o Provides encryption even for open Wi-Fi networks (e.g., public hotspots).
o Protects users from Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks.
4.4 Comparison of Wi-Fi Security Protocols
WEP (Wired WPA (Wi-Fi WPA3 (Wi-Fi
WPA2 (Wi-Fi
Feature Equivalent Protected Protected
Protected Access 2)
Privacy) Access) Access 3)
Introduction Year 1997 2003 2004 2018
802.11g,
Wi-Fi Versions 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4), 802.11ax (Wi-Fi
802.11 (Wi-Fi 1) 802.11a,
Supported 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) 6)
802.11b
AES-CCMP
TKIP (Temporal
Encryption RC4 (40-bit or 104- (Advanced AES-CCMP (192-
Key Integrity
Method bit) Encryption bit in enterprise)
Protocol)
Standard)
SAE
PSK (Pre-shared
Static key (no PSK, 802.1X (Simultaneous
Key Management key), 802.1X
authentication) (enterprise) Authentication
(enterprise)
of Equals),

14
 802.1X
(enterprise)
Very strong
Moderate
Encryption Weak (easily (192-bit AES in
(stronger than Strong (128-bit AES)
Strength cracked) enterprise, SAE
WEP)
for personal)
SAE (for
PSK (Pre-Shared PSK (Pre-Shared
None (no user Personal),
Authentication Key), 802.1X Key), 802.1X
authentication) 802.1X
(enterprise) (enterprise)
(enterprise)
Vulnerable to Protected
Key Reinstallation KRACK (Key against KRACK,
None No protection
Protection Reinstallation ensures forward
Attack) secrecy
Enhanced
Improved
Strong encryption encryption,
Basic encryption encryption with
with AES, more forward secrecy,
Security Features with weak key TKIP, MIC
secure protection
management (Message
authentication against brute-
Integrity Check)
force attacks
Moderate
Protection Against Weak (can be Strong (but Very strong
(vulnerable to
Brute-Force cracked in susceptible to weak (limits brute-
dictionary
Attacks minutes) passwords) force attempts)
attacks)
Enhanced Open
Public Network
None (no None (no None (no (OWE): Encrypts
Encryption (Open
encryption) encryption) encryption) open Wi-Fi
Networks)
networks
Compatible with Compatible with Compatible with
Backward Compatible with
WPA and WEP WPA, WEP, and WPA2 and WPA
Compatibility all Wi-Fi devices
devices most Wi-Fi devices devices
Susceptible to Vulnerable to None known
Easily cracked with brute-force and KRACK attack (designed to
Vulnerabilities
tools (IV attacks) dictionary (reinstallation of resist modern
attacks keys) attacks)
Current
Obsolete: No Widely Used: Still
Standard:
Obsolete: No longer secure in used, but being
Adoption & Usage Recommended
longer secure modern phased out in favor
for all new
networks of WPA3
networks
Recommended
Deprecated, not Deprecated, not Still in use but being for new
Status
secure for use secure for use replaced by WPA3 installations,
highly secure
Table 4.1 Comparison of Wi-Fi security protocols

15
 Chapter 5
DEVELOPMENT PROCEDURES OF Wi-Fi 6

WiFi-6 was developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and the Wi-Fi
Alliance, focusing on the following aspects:

Features Description

Increases performance in dense environments by improving

High-Efficiency Wireless (HEW)
spectral efficiency.

OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Divides channels into smaller frequency allocations,

Division Multiple Access) allowing multiple users to transmit simultaneously.

MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple Allows multiple devices to communicate simultaneously,

Input, Multiple Output) improving network efficiency.

Enhances power efficiency by scheduling device wake

Target Wake Time (TWT)
times, reducing energy consumption for IoT devices.

Reduces interference from neighbouring networks by

BSS Coloring
distinguishing signals with unique identifiers.

Table 5.1: Features of Wi-Fi 6

5.1 High-Efficiency Wireless (HEW) in WiFi-6

High-Efficiency Wireless (HEW) is a key feature of WiFi-6 (IEEE 802.11ax) that focuses on
improving network efficiency, particularly in high-density environments such as stadiums, offices,
and smart homes. Unlike previous Wi-Fi generations, which primarily aimed at increasing raw data
rates, HEW enhances overall network performance by optimizing how multiple devices share the
wireless spectrum.

Benefits of HEW in WiFi-6:

• Improved network efficiency in crowded areas.
• Lower latency for real-time applications like gaming and video calls.
• Better battery life for connected devices, especially IoT applications.
• Higher data throughput without needing more spectrum.

16
5.2 Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA)

OFDM is a multicarrier modulation scheme for data transmission in a channel. This means that the
channel is subdivided into multiple subcarriers or tones, and data are transmitted in parallel over the
subcarriers. The distance between the subcarrier frequencies may be low, e.g., 312.5 kHz in Wi-Fi 5.
To minimize interference among the subcarriers, the frequencies must be chosen carefully to be
orthogonal to each other. Then, each subcarrier is modulated independently.

To avoid interference in time, a Guard Interval (GI) is added after every symbol. It is a short time
interval between two consecutive symbols that protects against imperfect synchronization as
successive transmissions must never overlap, particularly in the case of clock drifts or multipath delay
spread. Symbol duration and GI are visualized in Figure 3a. In Wi-Fi 5, the symbol duration is 3.2 µs
long and the GI takes 0.4 µs or 0.8 µs.

OFDMA (WiFi-6): The channel is divided into smaller sub-channels called Resource Units (RUs),
allowing multiple devices to transmit simultaneously.

5.2.1 How OFDMA Works in WiFi-6

Frequency Division in OFDMA

• WiFi-6 divides a channel into multiple smaller Resource Units (RUs) to accommodate
multiple users.

• A 20 MHz channel consists of 9 RUs (smallest RU size = 26 subcarriers).

• Larger channels (e.g., 40 MHz, 80 MHz, or 160 MHz) have proportionally more RUs.

Channel Bandwidth Total Subcarriers Number of Resource Units (RUs)

20 MHz 256 9

40 MHz 512 18

80 MHz 1024 37

160 MHz 2048 74

Table 5.2 Frequency division in OFDMA

17
 Fig 5.1: Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 comparison in terms of subcarrier spacing and OFDM symbol duration. Payload
symbol duration is reciprocal to subcarrier spacing.

Key Advantages of OFDMA in WiFi-6

Feature Benefit

Multi-User Parallelism Multiple users can send data simultaneously, reducing congestion.

Higher Spectral Efficiency Efficient frequency usage reduces overhead and improves data rates.

Reduces waiting time for small data packets, improving real-time

Lower Latency
performance.

Improved IoT
Small RUs allow better support for low-bandwidth IoT devices.
Performance

Real-World Applications of OFDMA

1. High-Density Environments – Offices, stadiums, and airports benefit from reduced
congestion.
2. Gaming & Streaming – Lower latency improves real-time applications.
3. IoT & Smart Homes – Devices can transmit small packets efficiently without network
slowdowns.

18
OFDMA is one of the most important innovations in WiFi-6, enabling better spectrum utilization,
reduced latency, and increased capacity in dense network environments. By dividing the wireless
channel into multiple sub-channels (Resource Units), OFDMA ensures that multiple devices can
communicate simultaneously, significantly improving overall network performance.
5.3 Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) systems

MIMO was introduced in 802.11n to overcome the multipath effects that arose with the standards
802.11a/b/g in complex radio environments (because of, e.g., corridors, walls). With MIMO, the
signal is transmitted and received simultaneously through multiple antennas, increasing the number
of data streams that can be transmitted in parallel.

MIMO offers three different methods for data transmission within a channel:

• Spatial Multiplexing: Each antenna can transmit independent data signals to the receiver.
These data signals are called spatial streams. MIMO increases the throughput linearly with the
number of antennas, this transmission method.
• Spatial Diversity: This method turns the multipath effect into an advantage by transmitting
the same data over multiple antennas. Since every antenna on the receiver side might receive
data copies from other streams too, it provides redundancy. A Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
module recombines the received spatial streams to recover the whole data chunk.
• Beamforming: This technique modifies dynamically the radiation pattern of the group of
antennas. It is similar to directing the signal in a specific direction to strengthen the signal
rather than spreading the energy in all directions. Narrower beams bring stronger signals and
reduced interference.

Fig 5.2 (MU)MIMO modes

19
5.3.1 Multi-User MIMO Wi-Fi 6 proposes both downlink and uplink MU MIMO. Moreover, eight
parallel streams are supported. In contrast to Wi-Fi 5, MU MIMO can be applied to only parts of the
spectrum in Wi-Fi 6 so that it can be combined with OFDMA.

Fig 5.3 AP using MU-MIMO beamforming to serve multiple users located in spatially diverse positions

5.3.2 Multi-User OFDMA the 802.11ax standard borrows a technological improvement from 4G
cellular technology to multiplex more users in the same channel bandwidth: Orthogonal Frequency-
Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) it divides the existing 802.11 channels (20, 40, 80 and 160 MHz
wide) into smaller sub-channels with a predefined number of subcarriers. Also borrowing from
modern LTE terminology, the 802.11ax standard calls the smallest subchannel a Resource Unit (RU),
with a minimum size of 26 subcarriers.

Fig 5.4 A single user using the channel Vs. multiplexing various users in the same channel using OFDM

20
5.4 Target Wake Time (TWT)

To maximize the battery lifespan of Wi-Fi stations, the IEEE 802.11 standard defines a PSM.
However, stations with traffic to send/receive will compete just after the reception of a beacon,
resulting in traffic peaks and collisions. In addition, a station stays awake until all its packets are
received and/or transmitted, causing relatively long active times for PSM devices even if they have
only a little data to send or receive. To mitigate these problems, Wi-Fi 6 leverages and extends TWT,
which was introduced originally in IEEE 802.11ah . The wake times of stations under TWT control
are scheduled in advance without overlap. As a result, the standard maximizes the sleep times of the
stations and reduces their power consumption noticeably. Target Wake Time (TWT) is a power-
saving feature introduced in WiFi-6 (IEEE 802.11ax) that allows devices to schedule wake-up times
for data transmission, significantly improving battery efficiency. TWT is particularly beneficial for
IoT devices, smartphones, and battery-powered sensors, as it reduces unnecessary wake-ups and
extends battery life.
Traditionally, Wi-Fi devices frequently wake up to check for network activity, even when no data is
being transmitted. This consumes power unnecessarily.
With TWT, devices negotiate scheduled wake times with the access point (AP), remaining in low-
power mode when not in use.

5.4.1 TWT Mechanism:

1. TWT Negotiation: The device and AP agree on specific time intervals for communication.
2. Sleep Mode: The device stays in low-power mode until the scheduled wake time.
3. Data Transmission: At the scheduled time, the device wakes up, transmits/receives data, and
then returns to sleep mode.

5.4.2 Types of TWT in WiFi-6

WiFi-6 supports different TWT modes for varying use cases:

TWT Mode Description

Individual TWT Each device negotiates its wake time independently.

Broadcast TWT AP schedules wake times for multiple devices simultaneously.

Adaptive TWT Devices adjust wake schedules based on network conditions.

Table 5.3 TWT modes

21
5.4.3 Mathematical Model for TWT Power Savings
The power consumption of a device can be estimated as:

𝑬𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍 = 𝑷𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑻𝒂𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 + 𝑷𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝑻𝒔𝒍𝒆𝒆𝒑

where:

• 𝑃𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = Power consumption when the device is transmitting or receive data

• 𝑇𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 = Time spent in active mode
• 𝑃𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑝 = Power consumption in sleep mode
• 𝑇𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑒𝑝 = Time spent in sleep mode

Power Savings Calculation

If a device using WiFi-5 (without TWT) wakes up every 100 ms, and with WiFi-6 (with TWT) it
wakes up every 500 ms, the energy savings are:
𝑻𝑾𝑻 𝑾𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒍 (𝑾𝒊𝑭𝒊𝟔)
𝑷𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝑺𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 = (𝟏 − ) × 𝟏𝟎𝟎%
𝑾𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒂𝒍 (𝑾𝒊𝑭𝒊𝟓)

500
𝑃𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑆𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔𝑠 = (1 − ) × 100% = 80%
100

Thus, TWT can extend battery life by up to 80%, depending on usage patterns.

5.5 Basic Service Set (BSS) Coloring in WiFi-6

Basic Service Set (BSS) Coloring is a new feature introduced in WiFi-6 (IEEE 802.11ax) to reduce
co-channel interference in high-density environments. It allows overlapping WiFi networks operating
on the same frequency channel to differentiate their transmissions using a unique color identifier.
This technique helps improve spatial frequency reuse, allowing multiple access points (APs) to
operate efficiently without significant interference.

5.5.1 How BSS Coloring Works

In traditional Wi-Fi networks (WiFi-5 and earlier), devices using the same frequency channel in
overlapping networks treat all signals as interference, even if they belong to different networks. This
causes unnecessary delays due to the Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Avoidance
(CSMA/CA) mechanism.
WiFi-6 assigns a BSS Color (a numerical identifier from 0 to 63) to each AP and its connected
devices. This enables:
1. Same-Color Transmission (Interference) – If two APs have the same color, they follow
traditional interference rules.

22
 2. Different-Color Transmission (Reuse) – If APs have different colors, devices can ignore
transmissions from other BSSs below a certain power threshold.

Fig 5.5 BSS Coloring scheme in Wi-Fi6

5.5.2 Mathematical Model for BSS Coloring

Signal Interference Calculation
The received power at a device from an interfering AP is given by:

𝑷𝒓 (𝒅) = 𝑷𝒕 − 𝟏𝟎𝒏𝒍𝒐𝒈𝟏𝟎 (𝒅)

where:
• 𝑃𝑟 (𝑑) = Received power at distance d
• 𝑃𝑡 = Transmit power
• 𝑛 = Path loss exponent (varies between 2-4)
• 𝑑 = Distance between Aps
• If the received power 𝑃𝑟 (𝑑) is below the CST, the transmission is allowed.
5.5.3 Advantages of BSS Coloring in WiFi-6

Feature Benefit

Networks using the same channel can coexist

Reduced Co-Channel Interference
efficiently.

Increased Spatial Reuse More access points can operate in the same area.

Devices spend less time waiting for the channel to be

Higher Network Efficiency
free.

Improved Throughput in Dense Areas Ideal for apartments, offices, and public WiFi zones.
Table 5.4 Advantages of BSS Coloring in Wi-Fi

23
 Chapter 6
MODULATION TECHNIQUE IN WIFI 6 (802.11ax)

Modulation techniques maximize the number of bits transmitted per subcarrier. WiFi 5 supports up to
256 QAM that modulates 8 bits of information per subcarrier. QAM modulates data in each subcarrier.
More bits per OFDM symbol led to a larger throughput under the condition that the Signal-to-Noise
Ratio (SNR) is sufficient. Higher-order modulations are expected to be efficient only under favourable
conditions, namely clear environments and short distances. The coding rate identifies the portion of
bits that is used for the transmission of data and Forward Error Correction (FEC). The supported
coding rates are 1/2, 2/3, 3/4, and 5/6. A coding rate of 5/6 means that 83.3% (i.e., 5/6) of the data
stream is used to carry data and 16.7% is used to carry FEC. The combination of modulations namely,
Binary Phase Shift Keying (BPSK), Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK), 16-QAM, 64-QAM, and
256-QAM with coding rates, allow the standard to choose the data rate dynamically according to the
radio environment. The Modulation and Coding Scheme (MCS) index comprises a given set of
parameters to provide a wide variety of data rates for wireless connections. It is part of the rate
adaptation feature in wireless technology and includes the guard interval, coding rate, modulation,
channel width, and the number of spatial streams. A discrete list of MCS means that some
combinations are impossible for instance, BPSK with a coding rate of 3/4 is not possible.
Modulation techniques in WiFi-6 (IEEE 802.11ax) play a crucial role in improving data rates,
spectral efficiency, and overall network performance. The key advancement in WiFi-6 is the
introduction of 1024-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation), which significantly increases
data transmission capacity compared to previous WiFi generations.

Table 6.1 MODULATION TECHNIQUE IN WIFI

24
6.1 1024-QAM in WiFi-6 (802.11ax)
1024-QAM (1024-Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) is an advanced digital modulation technique
introduced in WiFi-6 (IEEE 802.11ax). It improves data transmission rates by encoding 10 bits per
symbol, a 25% increase compared to 256-QAM used in WiFi-5. This enhancement allows for higher
spectral efficiency and increased network throughput, making WiFi-6 ideal for high-bandwidth
applications like 4K/8K streaming, cloud computing, and online gaming.
6.1.1 Working Principle of QAM
Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) transmits data by varying both amplitude and phase
of the carrier signal. In 1024-QAM, a signal point is selected from a constellation of 1024 unique
symbols, each representing a different combination of amplitude and phase shifts.
Each symbol carries 10 bits, enabling faster data transmission than lower-order QAM schemes.
Mathematical Representation
The modulated signal in QAM can be expressed as:
𝑆(𝑡) = 𝐴 cos(2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡) + 𝐵 sin(2𝜋𝑓𝑐 𝑡)

where:

• A and B are amplitude values based on digital data

• 𝑓𝑐 is the carrier frequency
• 𝑡 is time

For 1024-QAM, there are 1024 possible values for (A, B), allowing precise encoding of 10-bit
symbols.

Fig: Modulation in 802.11ax (1024 QAM

25
 Chapter 7
th
6 GENERATION WIFI SECURITY

Supplying data by using a wireless medium means that everyone is able to capture the signal.
There can be no boundary, such as in the case of cable communication, that prevents
inappropriate access. This means that we need to take additional security measures. This article
will review the current Wi-Fi 6 security WPA3.

WiFi-6 (IEEE 802.11ax) not only improves speed and efficiency but also enhances security
with the introduction of WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3). WPA3 strengthens encryption,
authentication, and protection against cyber threats, making WiFi-6 networks more secure
than previous generations.

7.1 Security Enhancements in WiFi-6

7.1.1 WPA3 – Stronger Authentication & Encryption

WiFi-6 mandates WPA3, which replaces WPA2, improving security in several ways:

Feature WPA2 (WiFi-5) WPA3 (WiFi-6)

Encryption AES-128 AES-192 (for WPA3-Enterprise)

Brute-Force Attack Vulnerable to Simultaneous Authentication of Equals

Protection offline attacks (SAE) resists attacks

OWE (Opportunistic Wireless Encryption)

Open WiFi Security No encryption
for better security

Pre-Shared Key
Key Exchange Dragonfly Key Exchange (SAE)
(PSK)

802.1X with AES- 192-bit encryption suite for high-security

Enterprise Security
128 networks

Table 7.1 Features of WPA2 and WPA3

26
7.1.2 Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) – Protection Against Brute-Force
Attacks

WPA3 replaces the Pre-Shared Key (PSK) system of WPA2 with SAE (Dragonfly
Handshake).

• Prevents offline dictionary attacks by ensuring keys are not directly shared.

• Devices must engage in an interactive exchange before authentication.

7.1.3 Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE) – Secure Open WiFi

• Encrypts traffic even on open WiFi networks (e.g., coffee shops, airports).

• Protects against passive eavesdropping, unlike traditional open WiFi.

7.1.4 Enhanced Enterprise Security with 192-bit Encryption

• WiFi-6 Enterprise Mode uses AES-192-bit encryption, making it ideal for

government, military, and financial institutions.

• Provides protection against man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks and replay attacks.

Fig 7.1 Wi-Fi security tree (WPA3)

27
7.2 Comparison Table: WPA3-Personal vs. WPA3-Enterprise

Feature WPA3-Personal WPA3-Enterprise

Enterprises, businesses,
Purpose Home and small office networks government, and financial
institutions

Simultaneous Authentication of
802.1X authentication with
Authentication Method Equals (SAE) (Improved over
RADIUS server
WPA2-PSK)

192-bit AES encryption

Encryption Strength 128-bit AES encryption (Optional for high-security
environments)

Yes, stronger authentication

Protection Against Brute- Yes, using SAE (Dragonfly
using EAP (Extensible
Force Attacks Handshake)
Authentication Protocol)

Centralized authentication with

Device Access Control Password-based access certificates, usernames, and
passwords

Protection Against Strong encryption prevents Stronger encryption for high-

Eavesdropping interception security environments

Advanced certificate-based
Man-in-the-Middle
Improved security over WPA2 authentication prevents
(MITM) Attack Resistance
MITM attacks

Suitable for a limited number of Scalable for thousands of

Network Scalability
devices devices in large organizations

Table 7.2: WPA3-Personal vs. WPA3-Enterprise

28
 Chapter 8
FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF WIFI 6

Wi-Fi 6 is prepared to power completely new mobile experiences, providing faster speeds for
immersive-experience applications along with more device and IoT capacity for high-density
environments like shopping centre, stadiums, university lecture halls, and production facilities.

8.1 Features of Wi-Fi 6 and Benefits of WiFi-6 Over Previous Technologies

(WiFi-5 & Older)

1. Faster Speeds

• WiFi-6 offers a maximum speed of 9.6 Gbps, compared to 3.5 Gbps in WiFi-5.

• 1024-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) increases data transmission efficiency

by 25% over 256-QAM in WiFi-5.

• Supports 160 MHz channels, doubling bandwidth for high-speed applications like
4K/8K streaming and cloud gaming.

Speed Comparison Table

WiFi Version Max Speed Modulation

WiFi-4 (802.11n) 600 Mbps 64-QAM

WiFi-5 (802.11ac) 3.5 Gbps 256-QAM

WiFi-6 (802.11ax) 9.6 Gbps 1024-QAM

2. Better Performance in Crowded Networks

WiFi-6 is optimized for dense environments like stadiums, offices, airports, and smart homes
with multiple devices.

OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access):

• Splits channels into sub-channels, allowing multiple devices to share bandwidth

simultaneously.

29
 • Reduces network congestion compared to WiFi-5, where devices had to wait for their
turn to transmit data.

MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output):

• WiFi-6 supports 8×8 MU-MIMO, compared to 4×4 MU-MIMO in WiFi-5.

• Allows more devices to send and receive data at the same time, improving network
efficiency.

BSS Coloring (Basic Service Set Coloring):

• Reduces signal interference in overlapping WiFi networks.

• Improves data transmission speed in apartments, offices, and public places.

Comparison of Network Efficiency

Feature WiFi-5 WiFi-6

OFDMA No Yes

MU-MIMO 4 Users 8 Users

BSS Coloring No Yes

3. Lower Latency – Ideal for Gaming & Video Calls

• WiFi-6 reduces latency by up to 75%, improving performance for:

• OFDMA and MU-MIMO prevent network slowdowns, ensuring smooth real-time

communication.

Latency Comparison

WiFi Version Average Latency

WiFi-5 (802.11ac) 30-50 ms

WiFi-6 (802.11ax) 10-20 ms

30
4. Better Battery Life with Target Wake Time (TWT)

• WiFi-6 reduces power consumption for mobile devices and IoT gadgets.

• Target Wake Time (TWT) schedules device wake-up times, preventing unnecessary
power usage.

• Extends battery life for smartphones, tablets, sensors, and smart home devices.

Example: A WiFi-6 enabled smartwatch or IoT sensor can stay in sleep mode longer,
consuming less power.

5. Enhanced Security with WPA3

WiFi-6 requires WPA3 security, which improves encryption and authentication over WPA2
(used in WiFi-5).

Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE): Prevents brute-force password attacks.

Opportunistic Wireless Encryption (OWE): Encrypts open WiFi networks, preventing data
theft.
192-bit Security Suite: Offers military-grade encryption for enterprise networks.

Wi-Fi Security Comparison

Feature WiFi-5 (WPA2) WiFi-6 (WPA3)

Encryption AES-128 AES-192

Brute-force Attack Protection No Yes

Public WiFi Protection No Yes (OWE)

6. Supports WiFi-6E for 6 GHz Spectrum

WiFi-6E extends WiFi-6 into the 6 GHz spectrum, providing:

• More available channels for reduced congestion.

• Faster speeds and lower interference compared to 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz.

• Ideal for high-performance applications like VR, AI, and 8K streaming.

31
 Fig 8.1 Features and Benefits of Wi-Fi 6

8.2 TECHNOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF Wi-Fi 6

1. SIMULTANEOUS MULTI-USER TRANSMISSIONS:

This is efficiently accomplished with MU-MIMO and OFDMA (two techniques that
have been widely utilized in the cellular domain), by concentrating on the average
throughput per station, rather than aggregate output. They are complimentary
techniques in both directions (uplink and downlink) that efficiently serve diverse traffic
types (e.g. text messages, video streaming, etc.) to multiple users concurrently. While
MU-MIMO is useful when multiple users have full buffer traffic to send, OFDMA
provides maximum benefit when multiple users have small amounts of data

2. INCREASED CAPACITY AND HIGHER DATA RATES:

Through 1024QAM, Wi-Fi 6 can deliver a 25% increase in capacity over 256QAM, as
in previous Wi-Fi generations, particularly at close distances.

3. TARGET WAKE TIME (TWT) IMPROVES POWER EFFICIENCY OF STATION:

32
 Target Wake Time (TWT), a feature in Wi-Fi 6 networks, lets routers schedule check-
in times with devices. This enables the devices to plan communications with a router in
advance, thus reducing the amount of time they need to keep their antennas powered
on to transmit and search for signals. It improves the battery life of devices and routers
for low-power Wi-Fi devices. The TWT mechanism was originally introduced in the
IEEE 802.11ah amendment.

4. PERFORMANE IN HYPER -DENSE ENVIRONMENTS:

Multiple Access Points deployed in dense device environments will be able to

collectively deliver the desired QoS to clients with diverse usage profiles in Wi-Fi 6. It
can dramatically increase the aggregate wireless network throughput to address high-
density venues such as stadiums, auditoriums, retail chains, and malls, etc.

5. SPATIAL REUSE TECHNIQUE:

Multiple APs operate on a shared channel by mitigating co-channel interference. This

is made possible by a spatial reuse technique known as BSS Coloring, which enables
devices in one BSS to ignore frames from other BSSs on the same channel, which are
typically some distance away.

6. STRENGTHEN INDOOR AND OUTDOOR OPERATIONS:

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) includes mechanisms such as long OFDM symbols to optimize

multipath and supports robust outdoor deployments.

7. UPLINK RESOURCE SCHEDULING:

This functionality is probably the most important innovation and challenging aspect of
WiFi 6 (802.11ax). With uplink resources scheduling, the AP deterministically
allocates resources, coordinates and schedules the simultaneous transmission of
multiple clients.

33
Chapter 9
BENEFICIARY OF WIFI 6
Wi-Fi 6 benefits almost every industry by providing faster speeds, lower latency, and better
security. As the world moves toward a more connected future, Wi-Fi 6 adoption will continue
to grow, enhancing digital experiences for businesses and consumers alike.

9.1 TYPES OF COMPANIES THAT WOULD BENEFIT FROM

DEPLOYING Wi-Fi 6
Companies presently running Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) and below: The Study has estimated that
up to 49 percent of all companies continue to run Wi-Fi 4 somewhere within the organization.
The technology is nearly a decade old and may cause significant problems with application
performance and reliability. Such customers must skip Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and then deploy Wi-
Fi 6. Implementing Wi-Fi 5 will probably cause the need to perform an additional upgrade
within the next two to three years, if Wi-Fi 6 is installed it can be left in place for at least five
years.

Pioneering businesses that are early adopters of new technology: Many companies try to
stay ahead of the curve with regard to technology. Wi-Fi 6 will be able to provide the best
experience for their clients as well as internal employees, the technology must be the highest
consideration for these kinds of businesses. These businesses are frequently found in highly
competitive industries, for example in luxury retail and entertainment facilities, as well as
poorly performing wireless, can rapidly drive their customers to a different brand.

Companies that utilize high-bandwidth as well as immersive applications: Many

companies have integrated high-bandwidth applications in their business processes. Instances
of this are Virtual Reality (VR) as a customer service or collaboration tool, as well as HD video
in enterprise workspaces and conference rooms. The increasing bandwidth of Wi-Fi 6 will
guarantee improved user experience.

Businesses that are constructing high-density wireless networks: This encompasses public
spaces, stadiums, universities, and theaters. These kinds of businesses are frequently trying to
catch usage data about their audience; therefore, they need individuals to sign in to the Wi-Fi.
With earlier versions of Wi-Fi, the wireless network gets saturated quickly, which causes

34
individuals to switch to LTE. Use cases such as this have been extremely difficult to implement
with earlier versions, although it’s possible with Wi-Fi 6.

9.2 REVIEW OF Wi-Fi 6 DEVICE MARKET

Increasing Number of Consumer Electronics Devices (CED): Wi-Fi 6 devices market is
expected to grow because of the substantial increase in the use of CED like laptops, tablets,
and smartphone devices. Additionally, an increasing number of connected devices will require
greater concurrent device capacity. Wi-Fi 6 gadgets or 802.11ax standards are anticipated to
influence the latest Wi-Fi technologies or specifications and push the Wi-Fi 6 devices market
soon.

9.3 ENVIRONMENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND SECURITY THREAT

CHALLENGES TO CONTROL MARKET GROWTH

Wi-Fi 6 devices are increasingly becoming improved with advances in technology. Though,
the usage of high radio frequency ranges is influencing user health and harming the
environment. Such factors are expected to hamper the Wi-Fi 6 device's market growth.
Furthermore, increasing cybersecurity violations via wireless device networks are going to
impede the growth of the Wi-Fi 6 devices market

Fig 9.1 Wi-Fi 6 Market Advertisements

35
 Chapter 10
FUTURE SCOPE OF WIFI 6
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is already transforming wireless connectivity, and its future scope is
promising, especially as new technologies emerge. Here’s what to expect:

1. Adoption in Smart Homes & IoT

• Increased use in smart homes with multiple IoT devices (smart thermostats, security
cameras, smart assistants, etc.).

• Better performance in high-density environments like apartment complexes.

2. Enterprise & Industrial Applications

• Wi-Fi 6 will play a crucial role in offices, factories, and warehouses for automation and
AI-powered systems.

• Supports industrial IoT (IoT) applications, enabling real-time monitoring and predictive
maintenance.

3. 5G & Wi-Fi 6 Convergence

• Wi-Fi 6 will complement 5G for seamless connectivity in smart cities and large public
spaces.

• Hybrid networks will enhance mobile data offloading, reducing congestion on cellular
networks.

4. Public & Smart City Deployments

• Wi-Fi 6 will improve connectivity in stadiums, airports, universities, and malls.

• Governments will use it for smart city initiatives, such as intelligent traffic management
and public Wi-Fi.

5. Wi-Fi 6E & Future Upgrades

• Expansion into the 6 GHz band (Wi-Fi 6E) will offer less interference, higher speeds,
and lower latency.

• Future iterations (Wi-Fi 7) will build upon Wi-Fi 6, further increasing efficiency and
capacity.

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6. Better Gaming & Streaming

• Enhanced experiences for cloud gaming and 8K video streaming due to reduced latency
and higher speeds.

• More stable connections for AR/VR applications.

7. Healthcare & Telemedicine

• Hospitals will use Wi-Fi 6 for high-speed data sharing, telemedicine, and connected
medical devices.

• Improved remote patient monitoring and AI-driven diagnostics.

8. Cybersecurity Enhancements

• WPA3 encryption and enhanced security measures will make Wi-Fi 6 networks more
resilient to cyber threats.

• Improved security for financial transactions and enterprise networks.

9. Green & Energy-Efficient Networking

• Target Wake Time (TWT) in Wi-Fi 6 helps IoT devices save battery life.

• Energy-efficient networks will reduce power consumption in large-scale deployments.

10. Future-Proofing for Emerging Tech

• Supports AI-driven networking for automated optimizations.

• Essential for metaverse applications, autonomous vehicles, and next-gen computing.

Wi-Fi 6 will continue to grow in adoption across various industries, setting the foundation for
even faster and more efficient wireless networks. Its impact will be especially significant as we
move toward more connected and data-intensive environments.

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 Chapter 11
CONCLUSION
This report presents an assessment of the 6th generation of Wi-Fi technology. W-Fi 6 will allow
consumers to easily comprehend and to experience high-performance Wi-Fi technology. More
importantly, Wi-Fi 6 brings network effectivity up to a stage that will enable modern new
applications in nearly every segment. Few of these applications are already evident. However,
many will not occur for several years, as long as there is a critical mass of Wi-Fi 6 connections.
Now, it must be apparent that Wi-Fi 6 is going to deliver with it on the spot advantages in
network speed, capacity, and responsiveness to the large market benefits that will enhance as
time goes on as more Wi-Fi 6 capable devices which will be able to get the most of the
technologies’ several abilities replace systems that have early-generation connectivity. Every
technology and business monitors are showing that Wi-Fi 6 has the ability to transform
production and, over time, will enhance productivity. Whilst Wi-Fi 6 has the ability to bring
numerous solutions. The latest upgradation and the comparison to current wi-fi technology.
1024-QAM, OFDMA, and enhanced MAC features of wi-fi 6 are going to bring improved
performance experience for wireless users. Wi-Fi 6 is going to additionally bring even greater
capabilities to provide support for smart homes, IoT, and the environment with large-scale
implementations. In summary, providing fast and reliable wireless coverage in high-density
implementation circumstances with the older Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) WAPs is becoming
increasingly difficult as streaming 4K video, as well as other forms of immersive content, is
becoming the standard. This is exactly why the 6th Generation of Wi-Fi (802.11ax) standard
provides up to a four-times capacity rise over its Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) precursor. Through Wi-Fi
6 (802.11ax), multiple WAPs positioned in complex device environments will be able to
collectively deliver necessary QoS to more customers together with more varied usage profiles.
In our view, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is currently playing a significant role in assisting wireless to
develop into a collision-free, deterministic Wi-Fi technology that dramatically increases
cumulative network throughput to tackle the problem of high-density places and beyond.

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