Here is the Beef! Wi-Fi 6E spectrum advantages revealed

8/20/21 Co-channel interference will be all but eliminated.
Jeffrey Green The 6 GHz band is also cleaner “pure”. Section 1.1
1
Extreme is not just wringing more out of the same old spectrum.
A new generation of Wi-Fi technology is here. Do not let the slight change in the name fool: Wi-
Fi 6E represents a considerable advance over Wi-Fi 6. The low number of Wi-Fi channels forces
users to share available bandwidth and creates congestion. As each client station waits to
transmit (or receive) data, congestion is caused by devices, AP and Stations, sharing the same
channel. Now, Wi-Fi 6E takes advantage of exclusive new channels and features.
Quick Facts
Speed - 6GHz features 3X available spectrum with no legacy Wi-Fi interference
Low latency – the convenience of wireless without excessive lag.
Interference - complete spectrum supporting channels not impacted by traffic.
Previous generations, the first the 2.4 GHz band, is crowded with interference from many
devices, including baby monitors and microwaves. Today, the 5 GHz band is congested with
legacy Wi-Fi devices. Wi-Fi 6E supports 6 GHz band connections and not legacy devices. One
ketch, Previous versions of Wi-Fi 6 devices will not be able to take advantage of the benefits of
the 6 GHz spectrum.
Wi-Fi 6E.
WiFi 6E - The 6 GHz band.
5GHz
6GHz
2.4GHz

Where is the 6 GHz beef?
The low number of channels available today forces users to share available bandwidth and
creates congestion. As each client station waits to transmit (or receive) data, congestion is
caused by devices, Access Points and Stations, sharing the same channel. To better describe the
impact of 6GHZ Wi-Fi, let us borrow the catchphrase "Where is the beef?". As a visual aid,
begin with a hamburger bun with a 2.4GHz and 5GHz spectrum in the middle. The picture
below may exaggerate a 20 years spectrum limitation. However, the visual expresses the
potential of the 6GHz range to deliver the spectrum beef.
In 1984, Wendy's featured three elderly ladies at the "Home of the Big Bun" examining an
exaggeratedly large hamburger bun. One of the ladies lifted the bun to reveal a little hamburger.
In many ways, the original Wi-Fi was just like hamburgers made up of primary buns. In 2011,
Wendy revived the phrase for its new ad campaign, answering its question with "Here is the
beef." Today, Wi-Fi 6 GHz customers will answer "here is the spectrum" in the form of multi-
gigabit Wi-Fi with ultra-low latency. These immersive experiences can change how we look at
Wi-Fi connectivity going forward.
Here is the beef with Wifi 6E.
• 3x the bandwidth throughput leveraging
more spectrum (Up to 1.2 GHz more
spectrum in 6 GHz).
• Simultaneous operation in 2.4GHz, 5GHz
and 6GHz
• 1/2 Latency < 1 ms Latency (Fully-
Scheduled Traffic - No channel contention).
• High Capacity - Cutting-Edge Devices (No
legacy device operation in 6 GHz).
• 1/5 Lower Power Consumption.
• 2 x faster Bluetooth pairing.
• Zero Clitch Audio.

More spectrum (6 GHz is a gamechanger).
As organizations make their investment decisions, they increasingly ask the question, "Which
technology will prevail?" Of course, we all love a big fight and are very quick to pick a winner
of our preference. However, the winner in this fight is the users and the administrators of the
increasingly vast networks that connect millions of personal devices, IoT devices anywhere and
anytime.
The Wi-Fi 6 at 6 GHz program enables the successful delivery of high-bandwidth, low-latency
traffic without degradation from the oppressive interference environment. There are indications
that the world needs more spectrum for Unlicensed technologies. Wi-Fi Alliance introduced Wi-
Fi 6E to ensure the industry aligns with common terminology. The first wave of 6GHz Wi-Fi
should kick off in early 2021 when the Wi-Fi Alliance certification for 6E devices.
6GHz has the same theoretical top speed as 5GHz.
The maximum top speed under the Wi-Fi 6 standard is 9.6Gbps. On a basic level, customers are
the first person in the apartment building to get a 6GHz router, XYZ Schools are living large.
However, even once 6GHz routers become common, the hope is that the vaster spectrum allows
for signals to remain faster and more robust. In addition, the current deployments and statistics
rate suggests that more range is needed to load and offload saturated channels.
2x Bandwidth - new spectrum.
• 1200 MHz of new spectrum.
• More than double 2.4 & 5 GHz combined.
2x Channels - non-overlapping channels
• 59 non-overlapping channels in 20 MHz.
• More than double 2.4 & 5 GHz combined.
Cleaner Spectrum - No DFS to worry about.
• Performance - Legacy clients to hog airtime.
• All Wi-Fi 6E+; Gigabit-capable.

Wi-Fi 6E expands the spectrum.
Today, some customers with basic connectivity requirements may not be asking "where the
beef" is with their Wi-Fi Spectrum. However, the next generation of Wi-Fi products extends the
capabilities. The beef comes in the form of unprecedented speeds, a clear spectrum, and low
latencies. These improvements give customers access to the connectivity not previously
experience over legacy Wi-Fi. Unlike the existing bands crammed into a limited range, the 6
GHz band exists without overlap or interference.
Collision Avoidance.
Remember, when Wireless Devices have something to transmit, it must wait for the channel to
be precise. Put simply, and only one device transmits at a time. The 2.4GHz band breaks up into
eleven 20MHz wide tracks (1-11). Wi-Fi 6E leverages wider channels and additional capacity to
simultaneously deliver more extraordinary network performance and support more Wi-Fi users,
even in very dense and congested environments.
• In the 5GHz band, we have channels ranging from 36 up to 165, and in the 6 GHz band,
we have channels ranging from 1-233.
• Both frequencies allow for channel width from 20 MHz-160 MHz. Even though there are
11 channels available in 2.4GHz, only 3 of them do not "overlap."
• The interference turns the coverage area for multiple Access Points into one giant cell.
Interference means transmitting wait on the same channel within the same cell in various
access points, with the 2.4GHz band's limited available spectrum (only non-overlapping
20 MHz spectrum).
6 GHz addresses spectrum shortage by providing contiguous spectrum blocks to accommodate
14 additional 80 MHz channels and seven additional 160 MHz channels needed for high-
bandwidth applications requiring faster data throughput, such as high-definition video
streaming virtual reality. More spectrum and larger channel bandwidth will provide the capacity
to support even more devices at even faster speeds.

"Here is the new beef."
The Wi-Fi spectrum has been the same for 20 years. The new spectrum translates to faster,
more reliable connections. If customers have ever had trouble connecting Wi-Fi networks, there
is a good chance spectrum congestion was the problem. Whenever customers have too many
devices trying to communicate over the same frequencies, some devices will drop. There are
simply too many competing signals for computers to get through.
What does this mean in terms of channels?
Number of Channels 2.4 GHz 5 GHz Band 6 GHz Band
20 MHz 3 (non-overlapping) 25 (9 without DFS) 59
40 MHz 1 12 (4 without DFS) 29
320 MHz (future) 0 0 3
Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E devices are similar in all aspects except for the operation in the 6 GHz
band. Wi-Fi 6E devices operating in the 6 GHz band will be immediately able to take advantage
of the benefits provided by this greenfield spectrum. Congestion issues will be immediately
relieved with 59 new 20 MHz channels available in the 6 GHz band. Wi-Fi 6E APs will not need
to compete for spectrum and will be able to operate on congestion-free channels.
Wi-Fi 5 Wi-Fi 6 Wi-Fi 6E
Operating bands 5 GHz 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz 6 GHz
Modulation scheme OFDM OFDMA OFDMA
Highest modulation 256-QAM 1024-QAM 1024-QAM
Target Wake Time No Yes Yes
BSS Coloring No Yes Yes
Extended Range No Yes Yes
(59) 20 MHz channels.

Here is the Beef!

20 MHz channel reuse for 6 GHz (Fifty-nine channels).
Now, 802.11ax has a greenfield mode in the 6 GHz spectrum, leaving behind all the protocol
overhead used for compatibility in the 2.4 and 5 GHz bands. The 5GHz band allows for nine
20MHz channels. There are another sixteen in UNII-2, but these come with their own set of
issues. 6 GHz is an opportunity to overhaul 802.11. Spatial reuse takes full advantage of BSS
Coloring and OBSS with the legacy in conflict.
Expect a WIDE variety of form factors in 2022 – 4x4x4, 8x8:8.
Design Advantages with 20 MHz channels.
Fifty-nine 20-MHz available channels.
With Wi-Fi 6E, There will always be at least one 20 MHz channel available without congestion.
Continuous spectrum and the Fourteen 80-MHz channels or the seven 160 MHz channels, a
radio will find a channel available, free of congestion.
The Extreme AP 4000 tri-band access points,
supporting 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz. The tri-
radio supports concurrent operation in all three
bands. The increased radio complexity drives
increased power consumption.
• The 6 GHz band is also cleaner spectrum with
no dynamic frequency selection (DFS)
requirements needed to avoid radar.
• Latency should improve for applications such
as voice and video
• Co-channel interference will be all but
eliminated because there are so many channels
available for a 20 MHz channel reuse pattern,
however wider channels.

40 MHz channel reuse for 6 GHz (twenty-nine channels).
Let us say we have decided to use 80MHz with a traditional 5GHz access point. The 80MHz
reduces nine non-overlapping down to two. In addition, half of the access points occupy the
same slice of spectrum. Access Points near each other become a problem and can become part
of the same cell, slowing everything down. So why not just set Access Points to the most
comprehensive channel available?
40MHz Considerations.
Using a 40 MHz channel in 2.4 GHz did not work well because there is not enough room.
Because of the lack of available spectrum, there is a good chance of co-channel interference.
Wireless today has more noise. Less congestion means that clients wait less time to transmit. In
the past, networks designers only recommend using 40MHz-wide with powerful channels.
The future looks promising.
• Twenty-nine 40 MHz available channels. Because of the open frequency in 6 GHz, 40
MHz reuse plans will become more prevalent.
• With 6 GHz, everyone is eyeing the 1,200 MHz of spectrum—the shift toward additional
40 MHz and 80 MHz channels.
• In 2.4 GHz, we recommend using 20 MHz channels only. Using a 40 MHz channel in 2.4
GHz does not work well because there is not enough room. 40GHz has a higher chance
of causing and receiving adjacent and co-channel interference.
Wider channel widths design challenges.
Fast Passive Scanning of the spectrum and fifty-nine new 20 MHz channels, a station with a
dwell time of 100 ms per channel would require almost 6 seconds to complete a passive scan of
the entire band. In Wi-Fi 6E, a process called fast passive scanning focuses on a reduced set of
channels called preferred scanning channels. For 6 GHz operation, a subset of channels is
identified as preferred scanning, limiting the client's needs to scan.

80 MHz channel reuse for 6 GHz (seven channels).
An intriguing difference in 6 GHz will be the new power spectral density (PSD) rules that may
offset rises to the noise floor caused by channel bonding. PSD is the measure of signal strength
(energy) variations as a function of frequency. A unit of PSD is energy per frequency (width),
for example, five dBm/MHz. For indoor low-power APs, the FCC defines a 36 dBm maximum
EIRP based on a power spectral density (PSD) of 23 dBm /MHz EIRP. For indoor 6 GHz
clients, the FCC defines a 30 dBm maximum EIRP based on a PSD of 17 dBm/MHz.
6 GHz Band – Total Spectrum 1200 MHz.
What about 80 MHz channels?
There is currently speculation that the five dBm/MHz rules will compensate for the 3 dB rise in
the noise floor when bonding channels. As a result, 80 MHz in the enterprise may be feasible in
field-tested for 80 MHz channel reuse patterns.
• Fourteen channels are available for an 80 MHz channel reuse plan
• Five dBm/MHz PSD rules may offset rises to the noise floor caused by channel bonding
• Power spectral density (PSD) measures signal strength (energy) variations
With 6 GHz, 80 MHz channels can use for several APs located in specific areas (AR) and virtual
reality (VR). An optional capability called preamble puncturing allows a Wi-Fi 6E AP to operate
at 80 MHz or 160 MHz without Interference. Preamble puncturing allows an 802.11ax access
point to transmit a "punctured" 80 MHZ channel or 160 MHz channel.
Once again, the goal is that clients do not have to probe across 59 channels. Therefore, the
expected least used method will be active scanning. The Wi-Fi 6 client would send a probe
request for every fourth 20 MHz channel. These channels also serve as the primary channels
when used for 80 MHz channel bonding.
An intriguing difference in 6 GHz will be the new power spectral density (PSD) rules that may
offset rises to the noise floor caused by channel bonding. PSD is the measure of signal strength
(energy) variations as a function of frequency. A unit of PSD is energy per frequency (width),
for example, five dBm/MHz.

Effectively this is building in interference avoidance.
BSS color is mandatory, but SRO remains optional. Although, in theory, SRO sounds great for
mitigating co-channel interference, customers remain doubtful whether we will ever get it to
work. Furthermore, CCI becomes less and less in countries with 1200 MHz of new frequency
channels.
Preamble Puncturing.
An optional capability called preamble puncturing could allow a Wi-Fi 6E AP to operate at 80
MHz or 160 MHz without Interference. Preamble puncturing allows an 802.11ax access point to
transmit a "punctured" 80 MHZ or 160 MHz used by nearby radio. If preamble puncturing is
enabled, the 802.11ax AP will not defer and "puncture" the 80 MHz track. The 802.11ax AP
would transmit across the entire 80 MHz channel except in the secondary frequency space
already tied up due to the transmission from the other radios.
• With So many channels in the 6 GHz band, client probing can take a considerable time.
There needs to be a way to reduce 6 GHz probing.
• Surprisingly, the most widely used out-of-band discovery process, even for Wi-Fi 6E
clients already associated with a 6 GHz AP radio.
• A tri-band AP can inform a Wi-Fi 6E client actively scanning the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band
about existing 6 GHz radios co-located in the AP. There, two defined out-of-band
discovery methods are mandatory.
A Wi-Fi 6E client sends directed probe requests across the 5 GHz band for an SSID called blue.
Three APs answer with probe responses that carry basic service set (BSS) parameters for the
blue SSID for the 5 GHz channels of 36, 40, and 44. However, inside each probe response is
also RNR information about the same SSID available on the 6 GHz channels of 17, 33, and 49.
The client decides whether to connect to a 5 GHz, or even more likely, the available 6 GHz
channel. The goal is to eliminate probing time on the 6 GHz band. The client device learns of
available 6 GHz BSSs without ever scanning the 6 GHz band.

What about 160 MHz channels (seven channels)?
Although 160 MHz is the max, the FCC rules could allow APs to operate up to 320 MHz setting
the stage for the next generation of Wi-Fi, the 802.11be standard (Wi-Fi 7). Preamble
puncturing allows transmission across 160 MHz of spectrum, and one busy subchannel does not
prevent the use of others. Preamble puncturing and spatial reuse are very beneficial features.
6 GHz Band – Total Spectrum 1200 MHz.
Range - free space path loss in the first meter.
The lack of a contiguous spectrum challenges wider channels, limiting higher throughput. It is
hard to find an 80 MHz or 160 MHz channel free from interference caused by devices on
overlapping channels in dense environments such as stadiums or airports or higher density use-
cases. The 6 GHz band opens the spectrum to make full use of these wide channels.
• Higher speed – 1200 MHz of contiguous spectrum enables seven new 160 MHz channels
and 14 new 80 MHz channels. Network administrators will allow the widespread use of
wider media without the risk of interference from overlapping channels.
• First, remove all legacy devices and allow only 802.11ax (OFDMA, MU-MIMO, 1024
QAM) devices. Low latency, the 6 GHz band enables < 1 ms latency for 6E devices by
supporting numerous 160 MHz channels, advanced modulation techniques, and the
opportunity to extend highly differentiated end-to-end Wi-Fi 6 feature implementations.
• Additional spectrum - 320 MHz channels are already being planned for the next
generation IEEE 802.11be standard.
Wider channels present challenges because more bandwidth also means more OFDMA data
carriers being transmitted (and received) simultaneously. An 80 MHz channel has 996 sub-
carriers, while a 160 MHz channel has twice this amount. The SNR per carrier is reduced and
therefore requires higher transmitter modulation performance for successful decoding.

6 GHz with all the benefits of Wi-Fi 6 technology!

Fast Passive Scanning.
For 6 GHz-only APs, clients cannot learn of their existence using the previously described out-
of-band method. Instead, use a fast passive scanning method focusing on a reduced set of
channels (25% of all 20 MHz channels) designated as Preferred Scanning Channels (PSC).
PSCs are a set of fifteen 20 MHz channels spaced every four channels (80 MHz apart). All PSCs
may not be available based on the regulatory restrictions. Passive scanning of these fifteen PSCs
reduces the total scan time to the more manageable 1.5 seconds (assuming a 100 ms dwell time).
Preferred Scanning Channels (PSC).
The spacing of PSCs is optimized so that APs deployed with 80 MHz channels or more will
overlap. A 6 GHz-only should set up the BSS with a primary channel that coincides with a
preferred scanning channel (PSC) to assist stations scanning the band.
• Passive Scanning 1200 MHz covers and 59 channels to scan, a station with a dwell time
of 100 ms per channel.
• Excessive latency would result in slow roaming or even loss of connectivity for the end-
user and excessive power consumption.
• Active Probing is meant for 6 GHz only and not for APs with 2.4/5 GHz radios housed in
the same form factor. Do not confuse these channels with the primary channels.
Why were the channels of 5, 21, 37,53,69,85,101,117,133,149,165,181,197,213,229 chosen for
PSC? It had to do with worries about OOBE emissions and lower power levels for Channel 1.
Because there are many channels in the 6 GHz band, client probing can take a considerable
time. There needs to be a way to reduce 6 GHz probing or, even better, eliminate 6 GHz
investigating altogether.

Wi-Fi 6E discovery for clients.
Client devices cannot operate in standalone mode and must obey the operating rules of the AP
that they connect. The regulations define two classes of access point devices with their own
operating rules: Standard Power Access Points and Low Power Access Points. This power class
defines the total power fixed by the highest spectral density occurs for 20 MHz channels. In
contrast, all other channel widths operate with a lower PSD to meet the maximum EIRP
requirements.
Device Class Maximum EIRP
(up to 320 MHz channel)
Maximum EIRP Power
Spectrum Density
Standard Power AP 36 dBm 23 dBm/MHz
Client to Standard Power AP 30 dBm 17 dBm/MHz
Low Power AP 30 dBm 5 dBm/MHz
Client to Low Power AP 24 dBm -1 dBm/MHz
Power asymmetry between the AP and Client.
Clients connected to a Standard Power AP operate at a maximum of 30 dBm EIRP and 17
dBm/MHz. The asymmetry prevents clients from running too far from the access point. These
clients do not need to connect to an AFC system. Although the current 802.11ax standard
supports only channels up to 160 MHz.
Channel
Width
Standard Power Low Power
Device AP Client AP Client
Max EIRP/PSD EIRP/PSD EIRP/PSD EIRP/PSD
20 MHz 23 dBm 17 dBm 18 dBm 12dBm
40 MHz 20 dBm 14 dBm 21 dBm 15 dBm
Channel width.
Today, 802.11ax supports channels up to 160 MHz. However, the standard allows Standard
Power APs to potentially operate up to 320 MHz, setting the next generation of Wi-Fi. Collision
Avoidance mechanisms provide a medium access fairness by only allowing transmission when
the channel is idle.

The goal is to eliminate probing time on the 6 GHz band.
Using the greenfield status of the 6 GHz band, the scanning, beaconing, and probing
mechanisms define two goals. Optimize scanning mechanism to cover 1200 MHz of spectrum
and 59 new channels efficiently and reduce wasteful management frame traffic. There is a
delicate balance between maintaining efficient roaming while streamlining the discovery
process to reduce overhead airtime utilization. Clients learn about the available 6 GHz radio
from the RNR information in either beacon or probe response frames.
AP and Stations require High-Efficiency only operation in the 6 GHz band.
A Wi-Fi 6E client sends directed probe requests across the 5 GHz band for an SSID called blue.
Three APs answer with probe responses that carry basic service set (BSS) parameters for the
blue SSID for the 5 GHz channels of 36, 40, and 44. However, inside each probe response is
also RNR information about the same SSID available on the 6 GHz channels of 17, 33, and 49.
The client can then decide whether to connect to a 5 GHz channel or, more likely, the available
6 GHz channel. The client device learns of available 6 GHz BSSs without ever scanning.
• Standard Power APs and connected clients can enjoy 160 MHz channels on the allocated
bands following these rules.
• Surprisingly, the most widely used out-of-band discovery process, even for Wi-Fi 6E
clients already associated with a 6 GHz AP radio.
• A tri-band AP can inform a Wi-Fi 6E client actively scanning the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz band
about existing 6 GHz radios co-located in the AP.
Arguably, one of the essential decisions disallows the operation of older generation devices.
Devices operating in the 6 GHz band transmit and receive PPDUs compliant with High
Efficiency.
Reduced neighbor report.
• Therefore, two defined
out-of-band discovery
methods are mandatory:
• Reduced Neighbor
Reports.
• Multiple BSSID
Beacons.

Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC).
Because of AFC, the outdoor APs will be late to market. For outdoor communications in the U-
NII-5 and U-NII-7 bands, the FCC will mandate frequency coordination (AFC) to protect the
incumbents. An AFC system will use geo-location databases to manage real-time frequency
assignments to protect incumbent operations from RF interference. Customers might want to
deploy an outdoor standard-power AP in Brookhaven, GA. They are using either GPS or another
method. The AFC system determines the exclusion zones where standard power APs can cause
harmful interference to incumbent links in the UNII-5 and UNII-7 bands.
6GHz mesh backhaul changes access options.
Traditionally, the microwave band (6–42 GHz) enables backhaul; however, due to saturation,
capacity constraints, it will play a more limited role in the 6Hz era. Once AFC systems are
available for 6 GHz devices, outdoor mesh links will also be a reality. Extend existing networks
to gathering places such as playgrounds, parking lots through high-throughput 6GHz
technology. Wi-Fi supports backhaul from the AP (or other network appliance, such as a remote
IP camera) to the wired network. Each Wi-Fi backhaul link is a hop. It is possible to have a
chain of multiple balls between the remote wireless AP to the root wireless AP with a wired
connection to the network.
Connect the under-connected.
• Avoid trenching expensive cables.
• Time to expand connectivity quickly extend coverage.
• Use affordable, easy-to-manage, and complimentary wireless networks.

When will we see Wi-Fi 6E clients?
The clients are already here! Wi-Fi WPA3 defines enhancements to the existing WPA2 security
capabilities for 802.11 radios. The Wi-Fi Alliance is testing APs and clients for the Wi-Fi
Certified WPA3 certification. The new iPhone 13 lineup will arrive with a new Wi-Fi 6E
standard in all of its models.
6 GHz Devices and Laptops: Only Wi-Fi 6E clients with 6 GHz radios will connect and
encourage customers to upgrade their client population. The all-new Wi-Fi 6E is not just a speed
boost. It is not a traditional increase but more like a future-facing upgrade designed to ensure that
the speed does not come to a halt after a few years down the road. In simpler words, this
technology has the feature of upgrading and disseminating the rate to the devices. Another
significant benefit of this new generation of Wi-Fi is that it increases the battery life of the
devices that access Wi-Fi.
• Samsung Galaxy Pro Laptops
• Lenovo 11
the
 Gen ThinkPad Gen 2 T14-15 + P14-15 + X13 are available with AX210.
T14 - T15 - P14s -  P15s - X13 –
• Dell Latitude 9420 available.
• Dell 11
the
 Gen Latitudes 5320, 5420, 5520 – have 6 GHz antennas and will eventually ship with
AX210, but they do not yet offer it as a CTO option.
• Razor Blade 15 Advanced 
• Razor Blade Pro 17 
• MSI GE66
• MSI GE76 
• MSI GS66 
• MSI Creator 15
Smartphones
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra uses a Broadcom 6 GHz radio.
Numerous laptops from Samsung, Lenovo, Dell
and more using the Intel AX210NGW radio.
Desktop adapter using the Intel AX210 chipset.

6 GHz with new security technology!

OWE – Enhanced Open.
The OWE protocol integrates cryptography mechanisms to provide each user with unique
individual encryption, protecting the data exchange. The experience for the user is the same as
with open security because there is no need to enter a password or passphrase.
Mitigation of Malicious eavesdropping.
SAE – Simultaneous Authentication of Equals.
A WPA3-Personal access point (AP) in transition mode enables WPA2-Personal and WPA3-
Personal simultaneously on a single basic service set (BSS) to support client devices using a mix
of WPA2-Personal and WPA3-Personal with the same passphrase. Client devices that support
both WPA2-Personal and WPA3-Personal connect using the higher-security method of WPA3-
Personal when available.
OWE provides encryption without authentication.
By far, the most significant change defined by WPA3 is the replacement of PSK authentication
with Simultaneous Authentication of Equals(SAE), which is resistant to offline dictionary
attacks. SAE leverages on a Dragonfly key exchange. Dragonfly is a patent-free and royalty-free
technology that uses a zero-knowledge proof key exchange.
• Opportunistic Wireless
Encryption (OWE)
• Encryption without
authentication
• Enhanced Open
certification is not part of
WPA3 and is an entirely
different and optional
security certification
WPA3 Personal
• WPA3 replacement for PSK.
• Password key exchange based
on a zero-knowledge proof.
• Prove you know the
credentials without
compromising the credentials.
• No forging, modification or
replay attacks.
• No offline dictionary attacks.

The goal is to provide the same user experience by still using a passphrase.i
The OWE experience for the user is the same as open security because there is no need to enter
a password or passphrase before joining the network. Data privacy protects against malicious
eavesdropping attacks. Nevertheless, please understand that there is zero authentication security.
Enhanced Open is not part of WPA3 and is an entirely different and optional security
certification for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.ii
SAE leverages Dragonfly key exchange.
Customers understand that Enhanced Open meets only half of the requirements for well-
rounded Wi-Fi security. OWE does provide encryption and data privacy, but there is no
authentication whatsoever. As previously mentioned, Enhanced Open is an optional security
certification. As a result, many WLAN vendors still do not support OWE, and client-side
support is marginal at best but growing. Therefore, tactical deployments of OWE in the 2.4 and
5 GHz frequency bands are currently scarce. iiiiv
WIPs and 6 GHz.
Existing WIPS solutions will
NOT be able to detect 6 GHz
rogue APs and attacks.
Current sensors do not have 6
GHz radios.
The vendors with tri-band
sensor capabilities will take
the lead for WIPs in the 6 GHz
band.

The first 6GHz Access Point technology!

Universal Wireless AP4000.
The AP4000 is the industry's first Enterprise Universal and World SKU Wi-Fi 6E Wireless
Access point. The World SKU allows customers, partners, and distributors to order one model
for any region, replacing the age-old problem of country-specific SKUs. This innovation
simplifies the sales ordering process and reinforces Extreme's commitment to the journey to
"Effortless Experiences."
Band Channels Size Throughput
6 GHz 59 160 MHz 2.4 Gbps
5 GHz 25 80 MHz 1.2 Gbps
2.4 GHz 3 20 MHz 287 Mbps
Total 87 3.9
The AP4000 allows flexible placement.
The AP4000 Wi-Fi 6E access point, with three 2x2:2 radios, provides efficiency and
performance aggregating data rates up to 3.9 Gbps in the 6 GHz, 5 GHz, and 2.4 GHz band.
Designed for high density, such as schools, warehouses, healthcare facilities, and stadiums, the
AP4000 is powerful and intelligent enough to provide the highest client services without
compromising security.
With users, devices, things, applications, and more threats straining the infrastructure, the
AP4000 was engineered to meet those challenges. The AP4000 combines powerful Wi-Fi 6E
technology, security, and ML/ AI capabilities to allow high-speed, highly secure Wi-Fi into
high-density environments.
The AP4000 access point features a fully functional tri-band filter, enabling simultaneous
operations with no performance degradation between the 5 GHz frequencies and the entire range
of 6 GHz frequencies. Unlike other access points scanning part-time, the AP4000 features a
dedicated tri-frequency sensor that monitors for rogues full time, eliminating the risk of
vulnerability and attacks. This tri-radio AP is capable of multiple operating modes, optimizing
for maximum performance without trading off security.

Product Wi-Fi 6E Tri-Radio
Indoor Access Point. Comply
Tri-Radio AP4000-WW ·Tri-band filter reduces interference and enables
operation of 5 GHz and 6 GHz across all available channels
without restrictions. Tri-Band filtering functionality is out-of-the-
box without the need for a software or hardware upgrade.
$999
Universal As customers make investments, they must have a keen eye on
those investments and reduce costs in today's world. With
Universal infrastructure, customers take advantage of the agility
and reduce costs by running multiple Extreme operating systems.
This multi-persona capability provides increased product
flexibility and reduced hardware obsolescence.
agility
WiNG Either the IQ Engine operating system or the WiNG Operating
System persona can be enabled as required. The desired persona
can be selected at a start-up or changed at a later stage.
desired
persona
Wi-Fi 6E Powerful software-defined Wi-Fi 6E access point supporting two
programmable software modes to optimally manage radios to
provide the highest level of client performance. The AP4000 is a
tri-radio AP that can transmit three or two data radios and a
dedicated tri-frequency sensor.
tri-radio
Bluetooth To support both IoT and Guest Engagement, the AP4000
integrates Bluetooth® to connect with IoT devices wireless to
engage loyal customers with Apple iBeacon. API-driven
applications to send advertisements directly to shoppers, guests,
and conference attendees.
IoT and
Guest
Indoor WiFi 6E AP, 2.4 GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz & Multirate Port. Indoor Tri
Radio WiFi 6E AP, 2.4 GHz, 5GHz, 6GHz & Multirate Port.
Integrated Light, power sensors, BLE/Zigbee. AI/ML green mode.
INT antennas. T-Bar, Incl Mt (AH-ACC-BKT-AX-TB)
6 GHz
2.4 GHz
5 GHz
Wired 1x 10/100/1000, 1 x 100/1000/2500 - Power provided by Power-
over-Ethernet 802.3at, 802.3af / Power over Ethernet injector
3 Radios
Antenna
(2x2:2)
AP4000 operates across the spectrum as previous generations of
Wi-Fi to deliver enhanced wireless experiences, faster speeds, and
less interference.
(2) single band, 5.925-7.125 GHz Omni antennas
(2) dual band, 2.4-2.5 GHz and 5.1-5.8 GHz omni
(2) dual-band, 2.4-2.5 GHz and 5.1-5.8 GHz Omni (sensor).
(1) IoT
6 GHz
2.4 GHz
5 GHz

Impact of the Finite supply of spectrum.
By opening up the 6GHz band, the problem of "spectrum shortage" can be alleviated. The 14
extra 80MHz and seven 160MHz channels can fix this "spectrum shortage," For the past
decades, Wi-Fi has operated with roughly 400MHz of the spectrum. Today the limited amount
of contiguous range makes it difficult to enable 80MHz or 160MHz channels. Nevertheless,
high data throughput can only come when wide channels are available.
Only the FCC has jurisdiction over the spectrum available.
Listen before talk technology before a device sends out a packet of data. The device "listens" to
see if another device is transmitting. Because it is digital, that "listening" is measured in
milliseconds. If transmitting, Wi-Fi devices wait until there is an open millisecond-sized slot
before shoving some data into unused space.
• The beauty of digital signals shares the old analog signals. Consider, for instance, over-the-
air television. Before 2009, American TV broadcast signals were transmitted analogously
(think LP recordings vs. CDs).
• When the U.S. went to digital, it became possible to fit TV signals into the space. The FCC
reassign broadcasts to free up the spectrum.
• Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) shares the spectrum between wireless service
providers and the military. CBRS is now operational, thanks to microchip-based range
"sniffers" that identify unused capacity and dynamically assign channels.
After more than 20 years of enhancements, 6GHz provides Wi-Fi a pristine new spectrum
promoting speed without legacy devices' constraints. The standard under development, IEEE
802.11ax High-Efficiency, defines operation in the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency
bands.
Economic Impact.
$ Wi-Fi is already ingrained in
our society, with an estimated
global economic impact of $3.3
trillion dollars in 2021.
$ The potential of 1,200 MHz of
new frequency space for Wi-Fi
communications is mind-
boggling.
$ Opening the 6 GHz frequency
for Wi-Fi communication is
expected to bring $154 billion
in economic value to the United
States by 2025.

Infinitely Distributed Connectivity.
Customers need to connect anybody, anywhere, to any other person, device, or application. 1200
MHz offers an enhanced experience. In the short term, we anticipate multiple Wi-Fi use cases in
the 6 GHz frequency band. Extreme also sees value for connecting mission-critical IoT devices,
such as healthcare patient monitoring equipment, in this new pristine Wi-Fi environment.
The Wi-Fi Alliance is certifying 802.11ax technology.
Extreme predicts tremendous innovation for higher-bandwidth applications. We are beginning a
renaissance of innovation for virtual reality and augmented reality applications. Just look at all
the boatload of channels! There will be as many as fifty-nine new 20 MHz and potential twenty-
nine 40 MHz channels.
Before the expected enhancements, there will be Wi-Fi security considerations shoring up
security with WPA3 and Enhanced Open for all Wi-Fi frequencies. The Wi-Fi Alliance requires
WPA3 protection for Wi-Fi 6E devices operates at 6 GHz. Furthermore, support for Enhanced
Open security certification.

Device Class
Operating: Wifi-6E delivers 6 GHz with all
the benefits of Wi-Fi 6.
Maximum EIRP
Low power devices
five dBm/MHz
A new device class of low-power indoor
(LPI) APs will be allowed to transmit indoors
only with a maximum EIRP of 30 dBm.
Additionally, clients can connect to the low-
power indoor APs with a maximum EIRP of
24 dBm. The FCC will also require that all
low-power devices incorporate permanently
attached integrated antennas.
Network Health.
power spectral
density
Low-Power Indoor
(LPI) Access Point
6 GHz Subordinate Indoor Devices (device
class)Subordinate devices cannot directly
connect to the Internet. Subordinate devices
include Wi-Fi extenders and mesh networks
with the additional requirement controlled by
a low-power indoor (LPI) access point.
U-NII-5 (5.925-6.425 GHz)
U-NII-6 (6.425-6.525 GHz)
U-NII-7 (6.525-6.875 GHz)
U-NII-8 (6.875-7.125 GHz)
Essentials.
30 dBm
Client Connected to
Low-Power Indoor
(LPI) Access Point
24 dBm
Standard-Power
Access Point (AFC
Controlled)
In their latest filing Apple, Broadcom et al.
request that these very low-power devices be
permitted to transmit with 14 dBm EIRP and
-8 dBm/MHz power spectral density EIRP.
U-NII-5 (5.925-6.425 GHz).
U-NII-7 (6.525-6.875 GHz).
Client Health.
36 dBm
Client Connected to
Standard-Power
Access Point
30 dBm
Spectrum is an example of an observation attributed to
Mark Twain about investing inland.
"Buy land. They are not making it anymore".
Mark Twain

i
https://www.extremenetworks.com/extreme-networks-blog/wireless-security-in-a-6-ghz-wi-fi-6e-world/
ii
https://www.extremenetworks.com/extreme-networks-blog/wireless-security-in-a-6-ghz-wi-fi-6e-world/
iv
ttps://www.extremenetworks.com/extreme-networks-blog/wireless-security-in-a-6-ghz-wi-fi-6e-world/

Here is the Beef! Wi-Fi 6E spectrum advantages revealed

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