5G vs. Wi-Fi 6 | Network of the future

5G vs. wifi 6: what is it and what are the differences? The 5G network has recently become available, and everyone is talking about it. Could this be the network of the future? In practice, 5G has a much lesser-known but formidable competitor to Wi-Fi 6. This new standard has the potential to have a major impact on the most widely used forms of wireless connection in the short term. But what are the advantages of both networks and what is the difference between the two? We explain it below.

What are the benefits of 5G?

As a successor to 4G, 5G is the fifth generation of mobile telecommunications. The main differences between the two are that with 5G a much faster data transfer is possible, the response time is shorter and connections are more stable. 5G not only accommodates the increasing demand for mobile data, but also enables a range of new applications. Think, for example, of self-driving cars or live streams between doctors and ambulances.

Faster internet with WiFi 6

Just like with 3G, 4G and 5G, there are different levels with Wi-Fi 6. With each update a number is added. After WiFi 4 and WiFi 5, we are now at WiFi 6. This increases the speed of the connection and allows many more devices to achieve high speeds at the same time. This new standard is no less than thirty to forty percent faster than WiFi 5. The chips that process the data are becoming increasingly powerful, so that more data can be sent over the network within the same radio waves. But an additional advantage is that Wi-Fi 6 can also convert a wireless channel into different sub-channels. Each subchannel can carry data for a different device.

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5G vs. Wi-Fi 6

While 5G is a network that is used very widely, WiFi 6 mainly has to rely on smaller environments. However, the 5G masts can be found everywhere and no login is required. But because Wi-Fi is easy to scale, the costs are lower than with 5G. That is why we expect that companies will eventually opt for WiFi 6 more quickly than for 5G. However, the situation is different if you travel a lot for work: in addition to the possibility to have access to the internet in different places, mobile workers with 5G can also easily connect new devices. No bluetooth or router is needed anymore. Because 5G is super fast, you will not experience any hindrance from other devices that are connected. In addition, 5G consumes little energy without sacrificing speed.

We can summarize the differences as follows:

• Wifi 6 is especially useful for offices and home workplaces
• Wifi 6 is relatively cheap due to scalability and efficiency
• 5G is more widely available and more user-friendly
• 5G saves energy without sacrificing speed

The best of both worlds

Actually, the question is not which of the two options is better. Ideally, 5G and WiFi 6 would work together perfectly, so that you always have the best connection. Soon we will all be connected to both networks and our lives will look different. We are moving towards a connected world, in which all devices are connected to each other and use each other's data. Whether the choice falls on 5G or WiFi 6 depends entirely on the device, the situation and the use. It is not a question of 5G or WiFi 6 as a total solution, but of the need at the time. In general, Wi-Fi 6 is ideal for the office and home workers, where 5G is the perfect solution for on the go. Both techniques are lightning fast, complement each other well and bring with them many new possibilities.