5G and Wi-Fi 6 are both emerging technologies that have garnered lots of press in 2019, with proponents of each anticipating the major impact they will have on industries and individuals. Rather than being true competitors, 5G and WiFi 6 will likely each be appropriate for different applications and will actually complement each other in many network setups.
5G is a cellular technology like 4G LTE, operating off cell towers. It will provide much higher speeds with lower latency over LTE, but it requires many more radio access points and does not penetrate buildings well. 5G is currently being rolled out by AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint and is likely to be popular with enterprises as an alternative to traditional fixed-line internet options.
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is the latest version of Wi-Fi, also offering increased speed and low latency. Wi-Fi 6 is less prone to interference than 5G – but like all Wi-Fi, of course, it requires an internet connection to broadcast (unlike 5G, which is wireless internet itself).
Both of these technologies will likely have a big impact on enterprises that rely on wireless connectivity for devices, employees, and customers.
