The IEEE 802.11ac standard is an evolution of the 802.11n standard, designed to provide faster wireless communication speeds. Here’s an overview of 802.11ac:
IEEE 802.11ac:
- Release DateThe standard was officially ratified in January 2014.
- Frequency BandOperates exclusively in the 5 GHz frequency band, which is generally less crowded than the 2.4 GHz band, allowing for better performance in many scenarios.
- ModulationUses Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) for data transmission, similar to 802.11n, but with enhancements.
- MIMOBuilds upon the Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) technology of 802.11n. 802.11ac introduced Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO), allowing a router to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously, reducing wait times and accelerating network speeds.
- Maximum Data RateOffers data rates up to 1.3 Gbps under optimal conditions with three spatial streams and 80 MHz channels. With wider 160 MHz channels and more spatial streams, data rates can exceed 3 Gbps.
- Channel WidthSupports 20 MHz, 40 MHz, 80 MHz, and even 160 MHz channels, which enables higher throughput.
- Wave 1 vs. Wave 2The development of 802.11ac took place in two waves. Wave 1 supported speeds up to 1.3 Gbps and Wave 2 devices, which came later, supported speeds up to 2.34 Gbps, introduced MU-MIMO, and provided the option for 160 MHz channel bandwidths.
- BeamformingBeamforming became a standardized feature with 802.11ac. It allows the router to focus its signals towards specific devices rather than broadcasting in every direction. This improves the signal strength and reliability of the connection.
- Backward CompatibilityDesigned to be backward compatible with 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and 802.11n when those devices operate in the 5 GHz frequency.
802.11ac was a significant leap forward from 802.11n in terms of maximum achievable data rates. This improvement was a result of utilizing wider channels, more MIMO spatial streams, and other technical enhancements. It quickly became the standard for many home and business Wi-Fi networks because of its increased performance and reliability.
Key terms in plain language
Open a term for a concise explanation of language used on this page.
Fiber Internet
Internet delivered through strands of glass using light. Fiber commonly supports high capacity, low latency, and strong upload performance, but availability must be confirmed for the exact address.
Broadband
A general term for always-on, high-speed Internet access. Broadband can be delivered over fiber, cable, DSL, fixed wireless, cellular, or satellite networks.
Bandwidth
The amount of data a connection can carry in a given time, usually measured in Mbps or Gbps. More bandwidth supports more users, devices, and simultaneous applications.
Latency
The time it takes data to travel between two points. Lower latency improves voice, video meetings, cloud applications, gaming, and other real-time services.
Dedicated Internet Access (DIA)
A business-grade Internet connection with capacity dedicated to the customer rather than shared in the same way as typical consumer broadband. It often includes symmetrical speeds and an SLA.
SD-WAN
Software-defined wide area networking. It manages multiple connections and chooses paths based on application needs, performance, and policy to improve resilience and control.