Wi-Fi 6E and 5G will share 6GHz spectrum to supercharge wireless data

At one point, some observers believed that cellular and Wi-Fi technologies were locked in a zero-sum game, such that higher-speed 4G or 5G networks would eventually eliminate the need for Wi-Fi in transmitting data wirelessly. But as 5G transitioned from concept to reality, a more nuanced relationship became apparent: Wi-Fi would continue to have an important role, evolving alongside 5G, and possibly even intertwining with it. This week, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set an important date for the future of Wi-Fi, announcing that its five commissioners will vote on April 23 to permit or disallow “unlicensed” use of the 6GHz radio band. It’s important to understand what that actually means, so let’s break it down.