You may have come across the challenge of using wireless networks in high-density areas. Think about trade shows, airports, or other shared spaces. These events have hundreds or even thousands of users trying to connect to the WiFi from their phones, laptops, and other devices. Ultimately, stretching the network capacity, leading to signal degradation and reduced coverage. One memorable example occurred when Steve Jobs tried to showcase a demo on stage: Wifi 6E
Office buildings and other shared workplace environments are just as crowded. Wireless networks must cope with an ever-larger number of devices entering and exiting the coverage area. This has an impact on your video-enabled rooms and may cause a subpar content sharing and live video experience.
Cisco collaboration devices are ahead of the curve in several features: AI camera intelligence, audio noise cancellation, their ability to create custom experiences using macros and now introducing support for WiFi 6E. The Room Bar Pro video bar, Codec EQ powering the Room Kit EQ, and the recently announced Room Kit EQX solutions are the first devices in the industry to support WiFi 6E, so let’s dive into why it is so important.
Improved upload bandwidth
WiFi 6, the predecessor to WiFi 6E, brought significant improvements in upload bandwidth. This is highly important for video conferencing, where sharing high-quality video and content is as important as receiving video and content from the call. This demands upload capability as much as a download. The enhanced upload bandwidth ensures that video communication remains fluid and uninterrupted, contributing to a more effective and engaging virtual meeting experience. True to our Cisco values, we want everyone in the meeting to see and be seen.
The challenge with WiFi bandwidth congestion
WiFi 6 offers improved performance. However, it still operates on the 5GHz band contending for band space with legacy devices on previous protocols. This competition can lead to potential congestion and decreased efficiency, affecting the overall network performance. Even if your office has the bandwidth, the crowded airwaves could cause a poor connection. Recognizing this limitation, WiFi 6E steps in to provide a solution that not only retains the advantages of WiFi 6 but also introduces a groundbreaking feature: the use of the 6Ghz band.
An industry first – enhancing your room deployment with WiFi 6E
This is the standout feature of WiFi 6E. Opening the 6Ghz band increases the number of channels available for routers and smart devices to connect without interfering with each other. Cisco’s usage of this newfound space is particularly beneficial for shared and video-pervasive office spaces where a large range of phones, laptops, and video-enabled rooms transmit high-quality video data.
Cisco is not new in the inclusion of WiFi 6E into their devices, after all we are known for network equipment. This area of expertise is now used for the first time in video conferencing devices which marks a significant leap forward in addressing the evolving needs of virtual communication. Expected to become generally available from the February 2024 RoomOS release, the Codec EQ and Room Bar Pro are the first room devices in the industry to provide this feature. We will enable this feature in our future meeting room hardware offerings going forward.
As we embrace WiFi 6E, Cisco demonstrates the advantages of using its strengths in networking to produce the best video collaboration devices.
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