Wi-Fi Tech Evolution: A Journey Through Time

We ask for and enjoy high-speed Wi-Fi almost wherever we go, but this widespread availability and speed were both distant dreams once, replaced by dropped connections and slow speeds. Wi-Fi technology has come a long way to support the speeds and range we know today, changing the way we study, work, or live our day-to-day lives, thanks to decades of tech innovation.

In this article, I’ll dive deep into how that happened by exploring the journey of how Wi-Fi tech has evolved to become as advanced as it is today.

Let’s get started.

IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi 1)

Launched in 1997, this was the first standardized wireless Local Area Network (LAN) protocol made available to the public.

It functioned on an unlicensed 2.4 GHz (Gigahertz) radio spectrum and allowed speeds of up to 2 Mbps (Megabits per second), which, for people today, would be nothing short of a nightmare.

It was rereleased in 1999 in the form of two variants, the 802.11b and its successor, the 802.11a, both of which are discussed next.

IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi 2)

Theoretically, 802.11b could support up to 11 Mbps within 150 feet, and since it had affordable components, it was more appealing to consumers. However, since it ran on the 2.4 GHz frequency, it was more prone to interference from electronic devices such as baby monitors or microwaves, and had a slower speed.

On the other hand, 802.11a could deliver a theoretical bandwidth of up to 54 Mbps. Another distinguishing quality was that it used a less crowded 5 GHz frequency band, which prevented interference from other electronic devices.

Both these features were made possible using a technique known as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM). These features came with a heavier price tag as well, which made this one more appealing to businesses.

IEEE 802.11g (Wi-Fi 3)

The 802.11g was launched in 2003. It allowed faster speeds, reaching up to 54 Mbps using the same 2.4 GHz frequency as 802.11b. This was made possible using an OFDM multi-carrier modulation scheme and other improvements.

The standout feature of this variant was that it was backward compatible with 802.11b, which means that devices that support 802.11b could also function using 802.11g. The only problem was that the interference that 802.11b faced also resurfaced in 802.11g.

IEEE 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4)

Launched in 2009, this one was the first of its kind, since it worked on both a 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency band. It also introduced a feature known as Multiple-Input Multiple-Output, or MIMO. This is a wireless technology that uses multiple antennas on both the sender and receiver to send and receive multiple data streams simultaneously over the same radio channel.

These features allowed it to deliver speeds of up to 600 Mbps. The launch of this version propelled the use of wireless LAN networks instead of wired networks, allowing more use cases and lower costs for consumers and organizations.

IEEE 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)

Launched in 2014, this one functioned solely on the 5 GHz frequency, and you might have already guessed that this meant faster speeds and lower interference. It helped take speeds from 600Mbps to 1.3Gbps and also leveled up on MIMO by introducing Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO).

MIMO is used to direct different streams to a single client. MU-MIMO could direct streams to different devices at the same time, thereby increasing the overall data transferred by the whole network. Another standout feature was the 80 MHz channel width, double of what its predecessor offered.

This was made possible by beamforming, where the antennae transmit the radio signals directly to a specific device.

IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)

This is currently the most commonly used breakthrough in Wi-Fi technology, launched in 2020.

In addition to increased data rates and speeds reaching up to 9.6 Gbps, the main standout feature with this version is its ability to deliver seamless connectivity by avoiding network congestion in public spaces, such as stadiums or parks, for example.

It allows this by being able to function on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies and improving MU-MIMO by upgrading it to 8×8. This means that the router has eight transmitting and receiving antennas each, allowing it to send or receive up to eight independent spatial data streams to various devices simultaneously.

Another recent development with this one is Wi-Fi 6E or Extended Wi-Fi 6, launched in 2020. The upgrade this offers over Wi-Fi 6 is that it uses a 6 GHz frequency, which allows even faster speeds, lower latency, and reduced interference.

 Some major internet providers, such as Xfinity, for example, currently support this level of connectivity through newer devices. If interested, you can reach out to them. It also helps that they offer bilingual assistance for Spanish speakers through Xfinity Servicio al Cliente. 

IEEE 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7)

Breaking out just last year, this one is the latest development in Wi-Fi tech. While it has not yet been widely adopted and we have yet to see its effects in action, it can work on all three frequencies (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz).

You can also expect speeds of up to 46 Gbps in theory, which can enable diverse use cases such as AR/VR applications, remote work, gaming, and smart homes, thanks to significantly reduced latency and massive data throughput.

Wi-Fi – We’ve Come Far, But There’s More to Come

Innovation in Wi-Fi tech has taken us from 2 Mbps to potentially 46 Gbps, allowing diverse use cases among various parts of our lives, but the evolution is far from over. The full potential of Wi-Fi 7 will soon unravel in front of our eyes.

However, as we move ahead, we may see even more advanced versions of Wi-Fi that could further change the way we live.