WI FI 6 TECHNOLOGY MARKET ANALYSIS

The global Wi-Fi 6 Technology market is estimated to be valued at US$ 51.6 Bn by 2030.

Wi-Fi 6 technology is an advanced wireless technology, which is also known as 802.11ax Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi 6 provides features such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Multi-user Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), 160 MHz channels, Target Wake Time (TWT), 1024 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation Mode (1024-QAM), and others. Due to these features, it can provide up to four times more internet speed and four times more device connectivity than its predecessor Wi-Fi 5 or 802.11ac with increase in the overall network security.

Global Wi-Fi 6 Devices Market: Regional Insights

In 2022, the Asia Pacific region is projected to generate the highest revenue in the coming years. The region's developing countries are experiencing rapid industrialization, and various industry sectors are swiftly adopting Industry 4.0 technology. These factors are contributing to the growth of the market in this area. Moreover, the increasing number of start-ups and manufacturers offering Wi-Fi 6 hardware, software, and solutions are expected to create more demand for Wi-Fi 6 technologies. Chinese wireless companies such as Zunpai Communication Technology (Nanjing) Co., Ltd. are developing Wi-Fi 6 router chips and 2×2 MIMO architecture router ICs specifically targeting the 3Gbps market. Similarly, the India government introduced a public Wi-Fi initiative called PM-WANI to enhance broadband connectivity by deploying Wi-Fi access points in public locations. This initiative is anticipated to drive the revenue growth in the region over the forecast period.

The North America market is anticipated to experience significant growth during the forecast period. The increasing demand for high-speed and low-latency internet connections, along with the rising popularity of the hybrid work-from-home model, are the key factors expected to boost the market's revenue in this region. Wi-Fi 6 is considered the optimal choice for IoT connectivity as it offers data rates of up to 10 Gb/s with eight antennas, 160 MHz of bandwidth, and 1,024 QAM. This technology is beneficial for devices such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, and power-intensive devices with large batteries. It can also support devices with lower specifications, such as those with one antenna, 40 MHz bandwidth, and 256 QAM, which can achieve speeds of 230 Mb/s. This flexibility allows smaller devices to access the features of Wi-Fi 6. With the hybrid work-from-home model providing added flexibility for nearly 60% of employed Americans, Wi-Fi 6 routers can enhance overall performance by delivering faster throughput. This is expected to create a high demand for Wi-Fi 6 among working professionals. Compared to the maximum throughput of approximately 3.5 Gbps in 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 offers a maximum data transfer speed of 10 Gbps. Additionally, Wi-Fi 6 aims to reduce client power consumption, increase client capacity, and alleviate network congestion. These factors are anticipated to drive significant demand for Wi-Fi 6 in the region, leading to revenue growth in the market.

The Europe region is predicted to demonstrate a consistent growth rate in revenue throughout the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to two main factors: the rapid surge in e-learning during the COVID-19 lockdown and the rapid adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies in various countries across the region. Wi-Fi 6 offers a feature called Target Wake Time (TWT), which allows devices to schedule when they will wake up to transmit and receive data. This feature extends the battery life of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, as well as battery-operated smart home devices such as security cameras and video doorbells. The improved bandwidth management of the new standard also enhances Quality of Service (QoS) options and leverages previously underutilized radio frequencies to deliver faster performance in the 2.4 GHz band. Many enterprises in Europe are upgrading their Wi-Fi infrastructure to leverage the capabilities of Wi-Fi 6. Features, such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), provide improved efficiencies in handling multiple users, which is expected to support the revenue growth of the market in this region.

Figure 1. Global Wi-Fi 6 Devices Market Share (%), By Region, 2022

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Global Wi-Fi 6 Devices Market- Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

The global Wi Fi 6 devices market was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, free access points were made available to individuals who could not afford broadband services, ensuring internet connectivity. The outbreak led to a significant rise in telecommuting and data traffic from households and businesses, thereby driving the adoption of Wi-Fi 6 solutions. The global lockdowns and stay-at-home orders imposed as a response to COVID-19 have resulted in an increased reliance on wireless broadband. The advancement of digital technology and the widespread deployment of Wi-Fi 6 access points have become crucial for both developed and developing economies. The COVID-19 pandemic has also led to a growing number of Wi-Fi 6 connected devices in households, with an increasing trend. The lockdown measures have propelled the growth of digital learning platforms and remote education through message boards, contributing to the expansion of the market. For instance, in May 2020, Facebook Inc., a technology company and Google Inc., a technology company, extended work from home period till December 2020. Similar adoption of Work From Home (WFH) is seen in many other technology companies such as Twitter, Microsoft Corporation, and others due to which the usage of internet suddenly increased, which will increase the demand for internet with higher bandwidth such as 6 GHz.

Global Wi-Fi 6 Devices Market- Drivers

Increasing number of internet users

As the number of internet users continue to grow, and this trend is expected to persist in the coming years, there will be an increased demand for Wi-Fi 6 and its associated services. This surge in demand can be attributed to the rising smartphone penetration and improved connectivity worldwide. The expanding internet connectivity globally has created new business opportunities for telecommunication service providers. However, to stay competitive, these providers not only need to offer improved latency and bandwidth but also need to match the uptime offered by their competitors. To leverage these emerging opportunities, telecom companies are heavily investing in upgraded solutions that can provide the required connectivity bandwidth, network reliability, and security. This increased investment in wireless network infrastructure by telecom companies is anticipated to drive the industry growth.

Increasing demand for high-speed and low-latency connectivity

The rising demand for faster and more reliable wireless connections is driven by the increasing prevalence of bandwidth-intensive applications such as video streaming, online gaming, and cloud-based services. Wi-Fi 6 addresses this need by providing higher data transfer rates, lower latency, and improved network capacity. These features make Wi-Fi 6 an optimal solution for users seeking enhanced connectivity experiences.

Global Wi-Fi 6 Technology Market- Opportunities

Remote learning and work from home

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote work and online learning, increasing the reliance on stable and high-speed internet connections. Wi-Fi 6 offers improved performance in congested environments, enabling better connectivity and productivity for remote workers and students.

Advancements in Wi-Fi technology

Wi-Fi 6 introduces new features such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA), Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output (MU-MIMO), and Target Wake Time (TWT). These advancements enhance network efficiency, increase throughput, and improve user experiences, driving the adoption of Wi-Fi 6 devices.

Global Wi-Fi 6 Devices Market- Trends

Rising trend of e-learning in schools and colleges

The rising trend of e-learning across universities and schools has created a significant demand for robust and high-speed internet connectivity. With the advent of Wi-Fi 6 technology, educational institutions are able to cater to this demand more effectively. Wi-Fi 6 offers improved network capacity, faster data speeds, and better performance in crowded environments, making it ideal for supporting large numbers of students accessing online resources simultaneously. Furthermore, Wi-Fi 6's enhanced security features ensure the privacy and protection of sensitive educational data. As a result, the market for Wi-Fi 6 devices is experiencing growth as educational institutions invest in upgrading their networks to support the expanding e-learning landscape.

Growing hybrid working trend

The growing hybrid working trend, where employees work both remotely and in-office, has spurred the need for reliable and high-speed internet connectivity. Wi-Fi 6, with its advanced features, is well-suited to support the demands of hybrid work environments. Wi-Fi 6 provides increased network capacity, faster data speeds, and improved performance in congested areas, ensuring seamless connectivity for remote workers. It also offers enhanced security measures to protect sensitive company information. As organizations embrace hybrid work models, there is a rising demand for Wi-Fi 6 devices to upgrade existing infrastructure and deliver efficient and reliable wireless connectivity, driving the growth of the Wi-Fi 6 market.

Global Wi-Fi 6 Devices Market- Restraints

Lack of compatibility

Upgrading to Wi-Fi 6 requires both the access points and the client devices to support the new standard. As a result, the adoption of Wi-Fi 6 may be slower as users wait for their existing devices to become obsolete or for Wi-Fi 6-compatible devices to become more prevalent in the market.

Infrastructure in the developing phase

Implementing Wi-Fi 6 may necessitate infrastructure enhancements, such as upgrading access points, switches, and cabling, in order to fully exploit its advantages. These enhancements come with additional expenses and implementation time, which can be challenging for organizations that already have established network infrastructures.

Figure 2: Global WiFi 6 Devices Market Share (%), By Component, 2022

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Global WiFi 6 Devices Market- Segmentation

The global Wi Fi 6 devices market report is segmented into component, end user & industrial vertical.

By component: (Solution (Controller/Switch, Access points, Gateways/routers and Others) and Services (Network Planning and Design, Installation, and Support& Maintenance))

By End User (Enterprise and Consumer)

By Industry Vertical (Education, Healthcare, Retail, Transportation, Government, Manufacturing, Hospitality, Sports and Leisure, and Others)

Global WiFi 6 Devices Market: Key Developments

The major market players are focusing on product launches in order to enhance their product portfolios.

For instance, in March 2020, Aruba Networks, a part of the U.S.-based Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Information technology company, launched Aruba Air Pass, which enables its users to connect to its Aruba enterprise Wi-Fi 6 networks

For instance, in February 2022, NETGEAR, a computer networking company headquartered in San Jose, California, introduced two Wi-Fi 6 mesh extenders, Nighthawk AX1800 (EAX20) and Nighthawk AX6000 (EAX80). These extenders leverage Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) technology to expand the bandwidth capacity. Differentiating between the two, the Nighthawk AX1800 mesh extender is a newly introduced four-stream extender that can achieve speeds of up to 1.8 Gbps.

For instance, in December 2021, Huawei, a multinational company involved in the telecommunications, consumer electronics, and smart devices industries, released AirEngine 6760-X1 and 6760-X1E APs (Access Points). These indoor Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) access points offer ultra-high performance. By default, they have 10 spatial streams and two built-in IoT slots. With an RTU license, these APs can support up to 12 spatial streams and operate in the triple-radio mode.

For instance, in November 2021, Juniper Networks, a U.S.-based multinational corporation specializing in networking products, unveiled two new access points operating on the 6 GHz frequency range. These access points utilize Mist AI (Artificial Intelligence), enabling enhanced Wi-Fi performance and capacity while simplifying IT operations. The introduction of Wi-Fi 6E, a novel wireless standard, expands network capacity by utilizing the additional RF (Radio Frequency) spectrum available in the 6 GHz band, in addition to the existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. This expansion aims to accommodate higher network demands and improve overall connectivity.

Global Wi-Fi 6 Technology Market: Key Companies Insights

The major players operating in the global WiFi 6 devices market include ADTRAN, Inc., Aerohive Networks, Aruba Networks (Hewlett Packard Enterprise), Cisco Systems, Inc. (including Cisco Meraki), Extreme Networks Inc., Fortinet, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., Mojo Networks, Inc., Riverbed Technology, Inc., Cambium Networks, Ltd., Ruckus Networks, TP-Link Technologies Co., Ltd., and Ubiquiti Networks.

*Definition: Wi-Fi 6 technology market refers to the segment of the telecommunications industry that deals with the development, manufacturing, and deployment of Wi-Fi 6-enabled networking equipment, devices, and solutions. Wi-Fi 6, is the latest generation of wireless technology that offers faster data transfer speeds, increased capacity, improved efficiency, and enhanced performance for wireless communication in various applications, including homes, businesses, public spaces, and industrial environments.