Twenty years following the creation of Wi-Fi, it appears Mexico is ready to implement the latest version, Wi-Fi 6. Reports say that the Chinese telecommunication giant Huawei will lead efforts, after the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE, the leading professional association in the field) approved its protocol.
Also known as 802.11ax in developer language, sources call Wi-Fi 6 the next-generation wireless standard. Serving as a complement to 5G networks, the newest model is capable of connecting four times more devices than the previous version.
“This new standard will make battery consumption more responsible on devices,” said Osama Aboul-Magd, chairman of the IEEE group behind the Wi-Fi 6 debut. “It will allow more optimal connectivity in areas of great influence, such as sports stadiums and congested areas.”
Not only is the sixth generation of Wi-Fi faster than its 802.11ac predecessor, but it is also more suitable for congested urban areas and stadiums where signals often lag.
Mexico’s imminent implementation of Wi-Fi 6 comes after President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador spoke with Mark Zuckerberg in June. To promote universal coverage in Mexico, the president asked the Facebook CEO to assist in providing internet access and services to disadvantaged parts of the country.
“It would help us improve communication, connection, education, and healthcare,” said Lopez Obrador.
Even though he isn’t directly involved in this latest development on Wi-Fi 6, Lopez Obrador previously promoted internet connectivity programs as part of his National Development Plan. Accordingly, since the Mexican government appears to want to commit to launching free internet to low-income Mexicans in remote regions, now seems to be an opportune time to promote such development.
At the same rate, improved mobile network connectivity is still an issue in urban areas, where close to 80 percent of Mexico’s population resides.
With more breakthroughs will come more devices connected to Wi-Fi. The giant advisory firm Deloitte projects that the number of devices in Mexico will reach 200 million by 2020. More specifically, the firm also predicts that by 2022, 80 percent of the data demand will be for video content.
Today, 30 billion people worldwide use Wi-Fi 6 devices that are capable of reaching speeds almost 20 percent higher than earlier models.