Wi-Fi Standards Explained
Wi-Fi standards are defined by IEEE 802.11 with a letter suffix (n, ac, ax) — now rebranded as Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6 and 7. Each generation adds speed, capacity and new frequency bands. Here is the whole family at a glance.
The generations
| Standard | Wi-Fi name | Band | Max speed (approx) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 802.11n | Wi-Fi 4 | 2.4 & 5 GHz | 600 Mbps |
| 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 5 | 5 GHz | ~3.5 Gbps |
| 802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6 / 6E | 2.4, 5 & 6 GHz | ~9.6 Gbps |
| 802.11be | Wi-Fi 7 | 2.4, 5 & 6 GHz | ~40 Gbps |
The marketing names (Wi-Fi 6) map directly to the engineering names (802.11ax) — both appear on the CCNA.
What each generation added
- Wi-Fi 5 (ac) — moved to 5 GHz, wider channels, MU-MIMO.
- Wi-Fi 6 (ax) — OFDMA for efficiency in crowded areas. 6E adds the clean 6 GHz band.
- Wi-Fi 7 (be) — wider channels and Multi-Link Operation across bands.
Speed depends heavily on the band and channel width, not just the standard.
Which band, which standard
2.4 GHz travels further but is slower and crowded; 5/6 GHz are faster with more channels but shorter range. Modern APs run multiple bands at once. See 2.4 vs 5 GHz and what Wi-Fi is.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6?
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) adds OFDMA and improved efficiency in crowded environments, higher speeds (~9.6 Gbps), and better device battery life, compared with Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac).
What does 802.11 mean?
802.11 is the IEEE standard family for wireless LANs. The letter suffix (n, ac, ax, be) denotes each generation, now also branded Wi-Fi 4, 5, 6 and 7.
What is Wi-Fi 6E?
Wi-Fi 6E extends Wi-Fi 6 into the new 6 GHz band, which is less congested and offers more channels for higher, more reliable throughput.
Which Wi-Fi standard is fastest?
Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) is the current fastest, with theoretical speeds up to ~40 Gbps using wide channels and Multi-Link Operation.
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