Since its inception, Wi-Fi has struggled with a lack of brand recognition. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) establishes the universal wireless networking standard and uses a cryptic numbering system.
This is the original Wi-Fi standard, which is referred to as 802.11, followed by the letters 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and so on. Engineers had to wrap their heads around the fact that 802.11ad isn’t an extension to 802.11a, but rather an amendment of its own.
This has always been a source of consternation for me (is ac really that much faster?). It’s finally been renamed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, the industry group that certifies and brands Wi-Fi.
We’re now using version numbers instead of letters. While there is no official Wi-Fi 1, 2, or 3, there are locations in Wi-history Fi’s where those versions can be found. These are the new names for the current six consumer standards.
| Outdated Title | New Title | Launched | Max. Velocity | Bands |
| 802.11b | “Wi-Fi 1” (unofficial) | 1999 | 11Mbps | 2.4GHz |
| 802.11a | “Wi-Fi 2” (unofficial) | 1999 | 54Mbps | 5GHz |
| 802.11g | “Wi-Fi 3” (unofficial) | 2003 | 54Mbps | 2.4GHz |
| 802.11n | Wi-Fi 4 | 2009 | 600Mbps | 2.4GHz and 5GHz |
| 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 5 | 2013 | 3.46Gbps | 5GHz |
| 802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6 | 2018/2019 | 10.53Gbps | 2.4GHz and 5GHz |
In 2019, these new names are anticipated to gain traction, and by 2020, they will be widely used. Routers, laptops, and other Wi-Fi equipment will all use the new numbering system going forward.
The Wi-Fi Alliance wants device makers to utilize user interface icons to show the Wi-Fi level a device is connected to in order to encourage customers to upgrade their Wi-Fi equipment. You’ll see an icon warning you that you need to upgrade your devices if you receive a Wi-Fi 6 router but all of your devices are still on Wi-Fi 4.
What’s the big deal with Wi-Fi 6? In 2017, I penned an explanation of what was formerly known as 802.11ax. Details are correct except for the launch dates, which were too optimistic. In other words, 802.11ax is a game-changer in densely populated Wi-Fi hotspots where multiple networks coexist or where there are many concurrent users.
This summer, 802.11ax access points went on sale ahead of 2019’s planned formal certification. As of right now, no 802.11ax clients exist, but by the end of 2019, several mobile phones should support it.
Wi-Fi Alphabet Soup
The 802.11 standard comes in a variety of flavors, not just the well-known Wi-Fi flavors. There have been 802.11 working groups since the 1990s and the IEEE is now working on improvements to the Wi-Fi standard that won’t be in place for another two years. On the IEEE’s official timeline, you can see all of these changes in action. However, here’s a quick synopsis of what each one accomplishes and when it was approved.
| 802.11 … | What does it do? | Publish Date |
| a | Outdated Wi-Fi commonplace for high-speed 5GHz networks. | 1999 |
| b | The oldest client Wi-Fi commonplace. | 1999 |
| c | A regular that explains how wi-fi bridges work. | 1997 |
| d | It helps Wi-Fi adjust to totally different nations’ spectrum rules. | 2001 |
| e | A top-quality-of-service system is wanted for Skype and such. | 2005 |
| f | An approach for entry factors to speak to one another. | 2003 |
| g | Shopper Wi-Fi that was as quick as 802.11a. | 2003 |
| h | A modification to forestall Wi-Fi gadgets from interfering with satellites and radar. | 2003 |
| i | The WPA2 safety is commonplace for encrypting Wi-Fi connections. | 2004 |
| j | A modification to let Wi-Fi work on a brand that is solely out there in Japan. | 2004 |
| ok | It helps shoppers roam between entry factors on the identical community. | 2008 |
| n | “Speedy” Wi-Fi launched in 2009; now, Wi-Fi 4. | 2009 |
| p | Automotive-to-car networking for driverless vehicles. | 2010 |
| r | Sooner handoffs between entry factors, principally for Wi-Fi telephones. | 2008 |
| s | Mesh networking. | 2011 |
| you | “Hotspot 2.0” authentication for public entry factors. | 2011 |
| v | Let’s Wi-Fi gadgets chat with one another about community situations. | 2011 |
| w | A low-level safety commonplace. | 2009 |
| y | 802.11a Wi-Fi within the 3.6GHz band. | 2008 |
| z | Tunneled direct hyperlinks, much like Wi-Fi Direct. | 2010 |
| ac | Speedier Wi-Fi commonplace, now known as Wi-Fi 5. | 2013 |
| advert | “Wi-Gig” for transmitting information very short distances on the 60GHz band. | 2012 |
| af | “White Areas” are commonplace for transmitting Wi-Fi over empty TV channels. | 2013 |
| ah | Low energy, low velocity, prolonged vary information transmission, aka “Wi-Fi HaLow.” | 2017 |
| ak | Let’s Wi-Fi is used to bridge different networks extra effectively. | 2018 |
| ai | A regular that lets Wi-Fi gadgets connect to a community in 100ms. | 2016 |
| aj | Wi-Gig for China utilizing the 45GHz band. | 2018 |
| aq | A regular to assist gadgets to negotiate connections. | 2018 |
| Not locked down, but… | ||
| ax | Wi-Fi 6, the subsequent model of fast client Wi-Fi. | 2019 |
| ay | A proposed enhancement to Wi-Gig to make it sooner. | 2019 |
| az | An approach for Wi-Fi gadgets to raise decide their physical lets location. | 2021 |
| ba | “Get up radios” that use little or no energy to get up the primary radio. | 2020 |
| bb | Networking utilizing seen gentle. | 2021 |
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Lyna Patel, writer and avid reader with a love for exploring the human experience through my writing. I believe that writing is not just about putting words on a page, it's about capturing the essence of what it means to be human. I strive to create stories that are both honest and authentic, that reveal the beauty and complexity of the human experience in all its forms. I believe that writing has the power to connect us with others, to bring us closer together, and to help us understand ourselves and the world around us.
