WIFI

Wi-Fi protocols define wireless communication standards that govern speed, frequency, and range for devices on a wireless local area network (WLAN).

Protocol

Description

Use Case

802.11a

Early Wi-Fi standard operating at 5 GHz with up to 54 Mbps data rates. Suitable for interference-free, high-speed WLANs in enterprise and campus environments.

High-speed 5 GHz WLANs, enterprise networks

802.11ac

Provides high-throughput WLANs in 5 GHz band with MU-MIMO and wider channels up to 1.3 Gbps. Ideal for high-density environments with bandwidth-heavy applications.

High-speed video streaming, dense Wi-Fi deployments

802.11ad

Uses 60 GHz band for multi-gigabit speeds over short distances with beamforming. Perfect for ultra-high-speed, short-range data transfers.

Wireless docking, VR, fast data sync in-room

802.11ae

Prioritizes management frames with QoS enhancements for reliable control traffic delivery. Enhances performance in dense networks with real-time apps.

QoS for management frames, real-time apps, dense networks

802.11ag

Combines 802.11a (5 GHz) and 802.11g (2.4 GHz) features for improved interoperability. Useful for mixed 2.4/5 GHz deployments.

Dual-band support, backward compatibility environments

802.11an

Similar to 802.11n but optimized for the 5 GHz band to increase throughput and reduce interference. High-speed 5 GHz WLANs with improved range and reliability.

High-throughput 5 GHz WLANs

802.11aq

Enhances discovery and querying of available services over Wi-Fi networks. Improves user experience for service browsing and network selection.

Service discovery, network information querying

802.11ax

Next-gen Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6) with OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and improved efficiency for dense networks. Optimized for crowded environments with multiple connected devices.

High-density deployments, IoT, smart homes, enterprises

802.11ay

Builds on 802.11ad with higher throughput and longer range at 60 GHz using MIMO. Advanced short-range multi-gigabit wireless links.

VR/AR, wireless backhaul, ultra-fast indoor networking

802.11b

One of the first Wi-Fi standards operating at 2.4 GHz with up to 11 Mbps. Basic wireless connectivity with broad compatibility.

Legacy wireless LANs, low bandwidth devices

802.11be

Upcoming Wi-Fi 7 standard promising extremely high throughput with multi-link operation. Future-proof, ultra-high-speed, low latency networks.

Next-gen enterprise, gaming, AR/VR applications

802.11e

Adds QoS features for prioritizing different traffic types in Wi-Fi networks. Supports voice, video, and time-sensitive data transmission.

Multimedia streaming, VoIP, gaming

802.11g

Operates at 2.4 GHz with up to 54 Mbps, backward compatible with 802.11b. Popular for home and small office wireless networking.

General-purpose WLANs, home and SOHO

802.11i

Security enhancement standard introducing WPA2 with AES encryption. Provides robust wireless network security.

Secure Wi-Fi authentication and encryption

802.11n

Introduced MIMO technology with data rates up to 600 Mbps on 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. High-throughput WLANs for homes and enterprises.

High-speed home and office WLANs

802.11u

Enables interworking with external networks and improved network discovery. Facilitates seamless roaming and public hotspot access.

Hotspot 2.0, carrier Wi-Fi, roaming

802.11w

Protects management frames by adding cryptographic security. Improves Wi-Fi network security against spoofing and DoS attacks.

Secure management frame protection

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11a-1999

Main Features:

  • Operates in 5 GHz frequency band using OFDM modulation

  • Supports data rates up to 54 Mbps

  • Provides less interference compared to 2.4 GHz band

  • Shorter range due to higher frequency but less crowded spectrum

  • First widely adopted high-speed Wi-Fi standard

Use Cases:

  • Enterprise and campus WLANs with high throughput needs

  • Environments requiring reduced interference from common 2.4 GHz devices

  • Backhaul links and point-to-point wireless connections

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11b – Legacy 2.4 GHz standard with lower speeds

  • 802.11g – 2.4 GHz standard with OFDM support

  • 802.11n – Dual-band with MIMO support

Let us learn more about 802.11a:

Jump to “802.11a”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11ac-2013

Main Features:

  • Operates in 5 GHz band with channel widths up to 160 MHz

  • Uses MU-MIMO and beamforming for improved throughput and efficiency

  • Supports data rates up to several Gbps depending on configuration

  • Backward compatible with 802.11a/n devices on 5 GHz band

  • Widely adopted in consumer routers and enterprise APs

Use Cases:

  • High-definition video streaming and online gaming

  • Dense Wi-Fi environments like offices and stadiums

  • Multi-user high-throughput scenarios

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11n – Previous generation with lower max throughput

  • 802.11ax – Next generation with OFDMA and better efficiency

  • 802.11ad – 60 GHz ultra-high-speed short range

Let us learn more about 802.11ac:

Jump to “802.11ac”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11ad-2012

Main Features:

  • Operates in 60 GHz millimeter wave band

  • Supports multi-gigabit speeds up to 7 Gbps

  • Uses beamforming for directional transmission

  • Short range (typically < 10 meters) due to high frequency attenuation

  • Ideal for in-room high bandwidth applications

Use Cases:

  • Wireless docking stations

  • Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) streaming

  • Ultra-fast data syncing between devices in close proximity

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11ay – Enhanced 60 GHz with MIMO and extended range

  • 802.11ac – 5 GHz high throughput

  • 802.11ax – OFDMA and dense deployments

Let us learn more about 802.11ad:

Jump to “802.11ad”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11ae-2012

Main Features:

  • Amendment to IEEE 802.11 for prioritizing management frames

  • Enhances Quality of Service (QoS) specifically for control and management traffic

  • Allows for differentiated handling of critical management frames (e.g., association, authentication)

  • Reduces contention and delays in dense network environments

  • Supports better performance in real-time applications

  • Integrates with existing Wi-Fi QoS mechanisms like WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia)

Use Cases:

  • Real-time applications requiring timely management frame delivery (e.g., VoIP, video conferencing)

  • Dense environments with many clients competing for airtime

  • Improved roaming performance with prioritized reassociation frames

  • Enterprise Wi-Fi networks with mission-critical wireless infrastructure

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11e – Adds general QoS support for data frames

  • 802.11k – For radio resource management and efficient roaming

  • 802.11r – Fast BSS transition for seamless roaming

  • WMM – Wi-Fi Multimedia, a QoS system based on 802.11e

  • 802.11ax – Includes improved QoS scheduling with OFDMA

Let us learn more about 802.11ae:

Jump to “802.11ae”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11ag (informal name)

Main Features:

  • Combines 802.11a (5 GHz) and 802.11g (2.4 GHz) features

  • Supports OFDM modulation in both frequency bands

  • Enables dual-band wireless operation for better compatibility

  • Allows devices to switch between bands to reduce interference

Use Cases:

  • Environments requiring backward compatibility and flexibility

  • Networks using both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands

  • Mixed-device home and enterprise networks

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11a – 5 GHz band only

  • 802.11g – 2.4 GHz band only

  • 802.11n – Dual-band with MIMO

Let us learn more about 802.11ag:

Jump to “802.11ag”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11an (informal name)

Main Features:

  • Extension of 802.11n optimized for the 5 GHz band

  • Supports MIMO technology and channel bonding

  • Provides higher throughput and less interference than 2.4 GHz

  • Backward compatible with 802.11a

Use Cases:

  • High-speed enterprise WLANs requiring 5 GHz operation

  • Reduced interference zones with better throughput

  • Enterprise and campus networks

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11n – Dual-band support with MIMO

  • 802.11ac – Advanced 5 GHz standard

  • 802.11a – Legacy 5 GHz standard

Let us learn more about 802.11an:

Jump to “802.11an”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11aq-2018

Main Features:

  • Enhances Wi-Fi with pre-association service discovery capabilities

  • Allows devices to query networks about available services before association

  • Improves user experience by enabling better network selection

  • Supports advertisements of network capabilities and services

Use Cases:

  • Public hotspots and enterprise networks offering differentiated services

  • Seamless connectivity and service discovery in heterogeneous networks

  • IoT environments requiring service awareness before connection

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11u – Network discovery and interworking

  • Hotspot 2.0 – Seamless roaming and service discovery

  • mDNS/DNS-SD – Service discovery protocols

Let us learn more about 802.11aq:

Jump to “802.11aq”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11ax-2021

Main Features:

  • Operates on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz (and 6 GHz in Wi-Fi 6E)

  • Uses OFDMA and uplink/downlink MU-MIMO for high efficiency

  • Supports BSS Coloring to reduce interference in dense deployments

  • Improves battery life with Target Wake Time (TWT)

  • Offers higher throughput and lower latency in crowded environments

Use Cases:

  • High-density environments: stadiums, airports, enterprises

  • IoT networks with many connected devices

  • Streaming 4K/8K video, gaming, and real-time applications

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11ac – Previous generation high throughput

  • 802.11be – Next-gen Wi-Fi 7

  • 802.11ax-6E – Extended 6 GHz spectrum support

Let us learn more about 802.11ax:

Jump to “802.11ax”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11ay-2021

Main Features:

  • Builds upon 802.11ad with MIMO and channel bonding at 60 GHz

  • Supports throughput up to 100 Gbps with improved range and reliability

  • Uses beamforming and directional antennas for efficient communication

  • Suitable for multi-gigabit wireless links and backhaul

Use Cases:

  • Wireless VR/AR applications requiring ultra-high speed

  • Wireless backhaul for 5G and enterprise networks

  • High-speed indoor data transfers over short to medium range

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11ad – Predecessor with single-stream 60 GHz

  • 802.11ax – High-efficiency Wi-Fi in lower bands

  • 802.11be – Future ultra-high throughput Wi-Fi

Let us learn more about 802.11ay:

Jump to “802.11ay”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11b-1999

Main Features:

  • Operates in 2.4 GHz band with DSSS modulation

  • Supports data rates up to 11 Mbps

  • Widely adopted early Wi-Fi standard with broad device support

  • Susceptible to interference from other 2.4 GHz devices

Use Cases:

  • Basic wireless internet access

  • Legacy devices and networks

  • Low bandwidth IoT devices

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11g – Higher throughput in 2.4 GHz

  • 802.11n – MIMO and dual-band support

  • Bluetooth – 2.4 GHz short-range communication

Let us learn more about 802.11b:

Jump to “802.11b”

IEEE Standard: Draft IEEE 802.11be (Expected ~2024)

Main Features:

  • Enhances 802.11ax with wider channels up to 320 MHz

  • Supports 16 spatial streams and multi-link operation

  • Provides throughput targets >30 Gbps

  • Incorporates improved OFDMA and MIMO technologies

  • Aims for ultra-low latency and high reliability

Use Cases:

  • Next-gen AR/VR and immersive multimedia

  • Industrial automation and real-time control

  • Multi-gigabit home and enterprise networks

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11ax – Wi-Fi 6 base standard

  • 802.11ay – 60 GHz ultra-high throughput

  • 5G NR – Cellular ultra-reliable low-latency comm

Let us learn more about 802.11be:

Jump to “802.11be”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11e-2005

Main Features:

  • Adds Quality of Service (QoS) support to Wi-Fi data frames

  • Introduces Enhanced Distributed Channel Access (EDCA) and HCF

  • Supports traffic differentiation for voice, video, best effort, and background

  • Foundation for Wi-Fi Multimedia (WMM)

Use Cases:

  • Voice over Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) and video conferencing

  • Multimedia streaming with prioritized traffic

  • Enterprise WLANs requiring traffic management

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11ae – QoS for management frames

  • WMM – Wi-Fi Multimedia QoS system

  • 802.11ax – Advanced QoS features

Let us learn more about 802.11e:

Jump to “802.11e”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11g-2003

Main Features:

  • Operates in 2.4 GHz band using OFDM modulation

  • Supports data rates up to 54 Mbps

  • Backward compatible with 802.11b devices

  • Provides higher throughput in the crowded 2.4 GHz band

Use Cases:

  • Home and office WLANs requiring better throughput on 2.4 GHz

  • Legacy device support in mixed networks

  • Basic multimedia streaming and internet access

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11b – Legacy DSSS 2.4 GHz standard

  • 802.11n – Dual-band and MIMO support

  • 802.11ax – Next-generation Wi-Fi

Let us learn more about 802.11g:

Jump to “802.11g”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11i-2004

Main Features:

  • Enhances Wi-Fi security with robust encryption (WPA2)

  • Introduces AES-CCMP for data confidentiality and integrity

  • Provides mutual authentication with 802.1X/EAP

  • Protects management frames (802.11w integration)

Use Cases:

  • Enterprise and secure Wi-Fi networks

  • Protection against unauthorized access and eavesdropping

  • Government and mission-critical wireless deployments

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11w – Management frame protection

  • WPA3 – Latest Wi-Fi security standard

  • 802.1X – Network authentication framework

Let us learn more about 802.11i:

Jump to “802.11i”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11n-2009

Main Features:

  • Operates on 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands

  • Introduces MIMO technology and channel bonding (up to 40 MHz)

  • Supports data rates up to 600 Mbps

  • Backward compatible with 802.11a/b/g

Use Cases:

  • Home and enterprise Wi-Fi networks requiring high throughput

  • Streaming HD video and gaming

  • Mixed device environments needing dual-band support

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11ac – Advanced 5 GHz throughput

  • 802.11ax – Efficiency and dense environments

  • 802.11g – Legacy 2.4 GHz support

Let us learn more about 802.11n:

Jump to “802.11n”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11u-2011

Main Features:

  • Provides mechanisms for interworking with external networks like cellular

  • Supports network discovery and selection before association

  • Enables seamless handoff between Wi-Fi and cellular/mobile networks

  • Supports Hotspot 2.0/Passpoint features for secure and automatic access

Use Cases:

  • Public Wi-Fi hotspots with roaming agreements

  • Seamless user experience switching between cellular and Wi-Fi

  • Carrier-grade Wi-Fi deployments

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • Hotspot 2.0 – Built on 802.11u for automatic secure access

  • 802.11aq – Pre-association service discovery

  • 802.1X – Network authentication framework

Let us learn more about 802.11u:

Jump to “802.11u”

IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11w-2009

Main Features:

  • Provides protection for management frames against spoofing and forgery

  • Uses encryption and authentication for management frame types

  • Enhances overall Wi-Fi security posture

  • Works alongside 802.11i and WPA2 security mechanisms

Use Cases:

  • Enterprise and secure Wi-Fi deployments

  • Environments requiring strong protection against DoS attacks on management frames

  • Critical infrastructure wireless networks

Alternative or Related Protocols:

  • 802.11i – Security enhancements and WPA2

  • WPA3 – Latest Wi-Fi security standard

  • 802.1X – Network authentication

Let us learn more about 802.11w:

Jump to “802.11w”