Wi-Fi 6 - a star is unveiled

Wi-Fi 6 — the industry’s official moniker for 11ax from today — has me particularly excited. 

Why? 

You see, back in 2012, #Broadcom pioneered the notion of generational nomenclature for Wi-Fi. 11ac was the fifth generation of Wi-Fi. We chose to introduce it as “5G WiFi”. While unorthodox, our simple approach and the brand name itself resonated very well with the press, customers and consumers alike. People easily understood the significance of the number 5 - the most advanced Wi-Fi yet in 2012. Together with our product line, our branding methodology catapulted us to 11ax technology and thought leadership. For many, #5G #WiFi was #11ac. 

As we fast forward six years, the industry is gearing up for the sixth generation of Wi-Fi, #11ax. This time around, the Wi-Fi Alliance has successfully mobilized industry support behind a generational nomenclature as it launches 11ax. 

11ax will be certified as Wi-Fi 6. By extension, 11ac will be Wi-Fi 5 and 11n will be rechristened as Wi-Fi 4 going forward. 

Isn’t this simple, yet effective? It certainly passes my “mom test”. I don't need to give her a geeky explanation as to why we go from "n" to "ac" and then to "ax". I can ask her to look for the highest number next to the Wi-Fi logo. She can go for Wi-Fi 6 at the store to ensure that she will get phones, tablets, laptops & routers equipped with the best Wi-Fi. 

In summary, this is a particularly gratifying development for me. This is also a step in the right direction for the industry. As we race to get 11ax products to the market, the generational nomenclature will make the technology more visible for consumers and enterprises.