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Evolution
In this note, I will briefly explore the progression of WLAN technology with our comprehensive overview table. From the earliest standards to the latest advancements, this chart encapsulates the significant milestones in the development of wireless networking protocols. Each iteration brings with it increased speeds, improved modulation techniques, and expanded frequency bands, reflecting the continuous evolution of connecting devices wirelessly. Delve into the details that have shaped the
way we access the internet today.
Following is all the different WLAN technology in single table. Of course, a lot of details are hidden in the background for you to dig into.
|
Standard
|
Version
|
Freq(Ghz)
|
BW(Mhz)
|
Modulation
|
Constellation(QAM)
|
MIMO Stream
|
Throughput/stream(Mbps)
|
| 802.11 |
|
2.4
|
20
|
DSSS/FHSS
|
-
|
1
|
1,2 |
| 802.11b |
WiFi 1
|
2.4
|
20
|
DSSS
|
-
|
1
|
1, 2, 5.5, 11
|
| 802.11a |
WiFi 2
|
5
|
20
|
OFDM
|
64
|
1
|
6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54
|
| 802.11g |
WiFi 3
|
2.4
|
20
|
OFDM/DSSS
|
64
|
1
|
6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54
|
| 802.11n |
WiFi 4
|
2.4/5
|
20
|
OFDM
|
64
|
1
|
7.2, 14.4, 21.7, 28.9, 43.3, 57.8, 65, 72.2
|
|
40
|
2,3,4
|
15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 135, 150
|
| 802.11ac |
WiFi 5
|
5
|
20
|
OFDM
|
256
|
1
|
up to 87.6
|
|
40
|
1,2
|
up to 200
|
|
80
|
1,2,3,8
|
up to 433.3
|
|
160
|
1,2,3,4,8
|
up to 866.7
|
| 802.11ad |
|
2.4/5/60
|
2160
|
OFDM
|
256
|
|
up to 7,000 (7 Gbps)
|
| 802.11ax |
WiFi 6
|
2.4/5
|
20,40,80,160 |
OFDMA
|
1024
|
|
up to 10,000 (10 Gbps) |
Here is a nice snapshot that shows the latest evolution of WiFi in a single slide from an Intel Presentation.
Source : Future of Wireless Connectivity Wi-Fi 7 and beyond | Intel Technology (Jul 2021)
The table and diagram encapsulates the significant technological enhancements in WLAN standards, highlighting the evolution in frequency usage, modulation techniques, and throughput capabilities that have contributed to the fast, reliable, and efficient Wi-Fi technology we use today. It can be described as follows:
- 802.11 (Wi-Fi 1): Introduced in 1997, this was the first Wi-Fi standard operating at 2.4 GHz with a bandwidth of 20 MHz. It used DSSS/FHSS modulation techniques but did not specify the MIMO streams, providing a throughput of up to 2 Mbps.
- 802.11b (Wi-Fi 1): Appearing in 1999, this standard also operated at 2.4 GHz with a 20 MHz bandwidth. It used DSSS modulation and offered a single MIMO stream, with throughput options of 1, 2, 5.5, and 11 Mbps.
- 802.11a (Wi-Fi 2): Released in 1999 as well, 802.11a operated on a higher frequency of 5 GHz. It utilized a 20 MHz bandwidth and OFDM modulation with a 64-QAM constellation. Like its predecessors, it had a single MIMO stream, but it offered higher throughputs ranging from 6 to 54 Mbps.
- 802.11g (Wi-Fi 3): In 2003, this standard combined the best of both 802.11b and 802.11a. Operating at 2.4 GHz with 20 MHz bandwidth and using OFDM/DSSS modulation (64-QAM), it also supported a single MIMO stream with throughputs between 6 and 54 Mbps.
- 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4): This was a significant advancement introduced in 2009. It could operate over both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies with bandwidth options of 20 or 40 MHz. 802.11n used OFDM modulation (64-QAM) and introduced multiple MIMO streams (up to 4), allowing for much higher throughputs ranging from 7.2 to 150 Mbps per stream.
- 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5): Released in 2013, this standard exclusively used the 5 GHz band with bandwidths of 40, 80, or even 160 MHz. It improved modulation to 256-QAM with OFDM and offered up to 8 MIMO streams. Throughput capabilities were significantly increased, with the potential of up to 866.7 Mbps per stream.
- 802.11ad: This brought another jump in frequency to 60 GHz, introduced in 2012. It continued to use OFDM modulation (256-QAM) but over a much wider 2160 MHz bandwidth, which significantly increased the potential throughput up to 7 Gbps.
- 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6): The latest standard mentioned in your table, introduced in 2019, further expands capabilities. It operates over 2.4, 5, and even 6 GHz bands with bandwidths scaling from 20 to 160 MHz. It introduces OFDMA modulation with a 1024-QAM constellation, supporting multiple MIMO streams and offering throughputs of up to 10 Gbps.
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