THE NAMES
Codes became numbers
In October 2018 the Wi-Fi Alliance named 802.11n Wi-Fi 4, 802.11ac Wi-Fi 5 and 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, so devices and networks could show a simple generation.
Pick a generationStart
WI-FI GENERATIONS, EXPLAINED
Four, five, six, seven:
what the number means.
Routers and phones now carry a simple Wi-Fi number.
Since 2018 the Wi-Fi Alliance has named each major generation with a number instead of an IEEE code such as 802.11ac. Each step added speed and capacity, and the newest use the 6 GHz band that Ofcom has opened for Wi-Fi in the UK.
6 GHzthe newest Wi-Fi band
Pick a generationKeep in mind
- Numbers, not codes
- More bands, more room
- Ofcom sets the rules
- Wi-Fi 4 to Wi-Fi 7
THE SHORT ANSWER
A bigger number means
a newer generation.
The Wi-Fi Alliance names the generations.
Ofcom decides which radio bands Wi-Fi may use in the UK.
THE BANDS
A new band at 6 GHz
Older generations used 2.4 and 5 GHz. In July 2020 Ofcom made the lower 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz) available for Wi-Fi.
See the numbers
2026
Sharing the upper band
In July 2026 Ofcom decided to open the upper 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi too, shared with future mobile networks in busy urban areas.
Read morePICK A GENERATION
What does each
Wi-Fi number bring?
Choose a generation to see what the Wi-Fi Alliance says it introduced. The bar shows how recent and capable it is.
Based on the Wi-Fi Alliance's Wi-Fi technology pages and its October 2018 Wi-Fi 6 announcement.
TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING
Wider channels,
more spectrum.
One figure on the band Ofcom opened,
one on how wide a Wi-Fi 7 channel can be.
500 MHz
Spectrum opened for Wi-Fi in July 2020
Ofcom made the lower 6 GHz band, 5925 to 6425 MHz, available for Wi-Fi and similar technologies, including very low power outdoor use.
LOWER 6 GHZ · OFCOM 2020
320 MHz
Widest channel, in the 6 GHz band
The Wi-Fi Alliance says 320 MHz channels give twice the throughput of Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6 could use 160 MHz channels.
WI-FI 7 · WI-FI ALLIANCE
The Wi-Fi Alliance put cumulative Wi-Fi device shipments at 48.4 billion in 2026. In the same 2020 statement Ofcom also removed Dynamic Frequency Selection requirements from Wi-Fi channels in the 5.8 GHz band.
THREE THINGS TO CHECK
Reading the Wi-Fi
on the box.
The generation names were made so you do not need to decode IEEE standards. A few points help when you compare devices.
Step 1
Look for the number
The Wi-Fi Alliance meant the name for products, phone and computer software, and broadband providers describing their networks.
Step 2
The connection can differ
The name can describe what a device supports or the connection it has made, and the on-screen icon can change as the device moves between networks.
Step 3
Check the bands
Wi-Fi 5 products mostly use 2.4 and 5 GHz. Wi-Fi 6 added 6 GHz, and Wi-Fi 7 works across 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz.
THE UPPER 6 GHZ BAND
Wi-Fi and mobile
learn to share.
Ofcom's statement of 20 July 2026 splits the upper 6 GHz band (6425–7125 MHz). The lowest 160 MHz is a Wi-Fi priority portion, licence-exempt on the same basis as the lower band, including low power indoor use and very low power devices such as mobile hotspots.
The upper 540 MHz is a mobile priority portion. Wi-Fi can use it only under an Automated Frequency Coordination database, so Wi-Fi use can be managed as mobile networks are deployed, mainly in dense urban areas.
Questions
Questions on the way
What does 802.11 mean?
It is the family of IEEE standards behind Wi-Fi. The Wi-Fi Alliance gave the major releases simpler names in 2018: 802.11n is Wi-Fi 4, 802.11ac is Wi-Fi 5 and 802.11ax is Wi-Fi 6.
Is Wi-Fi 7 twice as fast as Wi-Fi 6?
The Wi-Fi Alliance says Wi-Fi 7's 320 MHz channels in the 6 GHz band provide twice the throughput of Wi-Fi 6.
Can I use 6 GHz Wi-Fi in the UK?
Yes. Ofcom made the lower 6 GHz band (5925–6425 MHz) available for Wi-Fi in July 2020, and in July 2026 decided to open the upper band on a shared basis.
What is Automated Frequency Coordination?
A database-driven way of managing spectrum that tells devices which frequencies are available, protecting existing users. Ofcom uses it for outdoor and higher-power 6 GHz Wi-Fi.
What is Wi-Fi HaLow?
A Wi-Fi Alliance technology from 2017 that works below 1 GHz, with a range of about 1 km and low power use, aimed at sensors and other connected devices.
Destination
Where the facts come from
- Wi-Fi Alliance: Wi-Fi (MAC/PHY) technologies, Wi-Fi 4 to Wi-Fi 8
- Wi-Fi Alliance press release: Wi-Fi Alliance introduces Wi-Fi 6 (3 October 2018)
- Ofcom statement: Improving spectrum access for Wi-Fi, spectrum use in the 5 and 6 GHz bands (2020)
- Ofcom statement: Expanding access to the 6 GHz band for commercial mobile and Wi-Fi services (20 July 2026, PDF)
Updated