By Alex Niyonsaba

With the increasing demand and use of bandwidth-intensive web applications, online media, mobile applications, and live streaming on our laptops and smartphones, it is fantastic to know that Wi-Fi speeds are getting faster!

Some of you, who are less tech-savvy than others, must be wondering what Wi-Fi means. Wi-Fi is an abbreviation for Wireless Fidelity.

Basically, it involves the use of radio waves to enable high-speed Internet and network connections between devices that do not require physical wires. A wireless access point (WAP) or router emits a wireless signal to which other devices may connect to build Wi-Fi networks.

Now that we've defined Wi-Fi, let's look at Wi-Fi 6, the newest generation of fast internet. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a professional global body responsible for setting standards in several domains, (including the computer industry), officially released Wi-Fi 6 three years ago.

It was also endorsed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a non-profit organisation that promotes Wi-Fi technology and certifies Wi-Fi equipment.  As a result, several device makers have already begun to incorporate this technology into their products.

When it comes to comparisons, Wi-Fi 6 is nearly three times faster than Wi-Fi 5. It not only increases device speeds but also enhances the network quality when several devices are connected.

Imagine Wi-Fi 6 as a highway with extra lanes and improved traffic control. It delivers greater bandwidth and better network traffic management, enabling quicker and more efficient data transfers without congestion; much as extra lanes on a highway allow more vehicles to drive at faster rates without congestion.

In order to use Wi-Fi 6, you will first need to purchase new Wi-Fi 6-capable gadgets. Wi-Fi technologies rely on new hardware rather than merely software upgrades.

Adoption of Wi-Fi 6 capabilities also requires a Wi-Fi 6 compatible router or access point, as well as compatible devices such as smartphones, laptops, and tablets.

For starters, check to see if your devices support Wi-Fi 6, either by reading the product documentation or contacting the manufacturer. After verifying that your devices support Wi-Fi 6, then confirm whether they are running the most recent operating system or firmware that supports Wi-Fi 6.

The next step is to join the Wi-Fi network by going to the Wi-Fi settings on your device and pick the Wi-Fi network using Wi-Fi 6. If necessary, provide the Wi-Fi network password. When you connect to the Wi-Fi 6 network, you should notice quicker speeds, more capacity, and enhanced performance 

 One major advantage is that Wi-Fi is backward compatible with previous wireless standards. This means that devices which don't support Wi-Fi 6 will still function as usual. However, they won't get the additional features and benefits of Wi-Fi 6.

Wi-Fi 6 is meant for everybody who connects to the internet via Wi-Fi and is extremely beneficial for both personal and corporate use.

Furthermore, Wi-Fi 6 has technologies like Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) that improve battery life and network efficiency, making it particularly useful for mobile device users.

Educational institutions, such as schools and universities, can also use Wi-Fi 6 to provide reliable and fast internet access to students and teachers, and to support digital learning initiatives.

In healthcare settings, such as hospitals and clinics it can support critical applications such as telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs), and medical devices.

Wi-Fi 6 can also substantially improve efficiencies in transportation systems at airports, train stations, and bus terminals to provide reliable internet access to passengers, and to support transportation-related applications, such as ticketing.

In public spaces, Wi-Fi 6 can provide high-speed internet access to visitors for a host of events, including conferences and exhibitions.

Although most modern smartphones, laptops, and other devices now support Wi-Fi 6, it's worth noting that the adoption of Wi-Fi 6 networks is still in its early stages across much of Africa.

Kenya, South Africa, and Morocco have adopted Wi-Fi 6 networks while Egypt and Tunisia are still considering the proposal.   As of now, Uganda is not listed among the countries planning to adopt Wi-Fi 6 networks. Nor is it clear whether the proposal is being considered. All of which means, Uganda’s Wi-Fi 6 network adoption status is currently unknown.

Overall, Wi-Fi 6 provides a huge improvement over previous Wi-Fi standards in terms of speed, capacity, range, and battery life, making it a good choice for homes, and organisations that rely heavily on wireless connectivity.

The writer is a software engineer at Flyhub, Uganda