A table to understand the difference between 5G and Wi-Fi 6

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Spectrum Type

Traditionally, cellular networks operate in licensed spectrum and Wi-Fi operates in unlicensed spectrum. However, in the 5G era, this division has gradually become blurred. On the one hand, some countries, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, France, and the United States, have allocated localized spectrum for 5G private networks, which can be used after enterprises apply for approval; on the other hand, the standard-defined NR-U is a 5G wireless network that operates in unlicensed spectrum. Judging from this trend alone, Wi-Fi 6 faces greater competitive pressure from cellular networks than previous generations.

Mobility

Cellular networks are designed for mobility, and they have a natural advantage over Wi-Fi in this regard. But Wi-Fi can also support inter-AP roaming through gateways, which can expand WLAN to a larger coverage area. However, 5G has a complete and mature mechanism for reselection, switching, and redirection, while Wi-Fi 6 needs to disconnect and reconnect, and the roaming interruption time is longer.

Coverage

Because the licensed spectrum allows higher transmission power, the coverage range of 5G Small Cells is typically 100 to 300 meters, which is larger than the coverage range of indoor Wi-Fi (usually within 50 meters).

Chip/Terminal Cost

Wi-Fi 6 chips are cheaper than 5G chips, with obvious cost advantages.

Deployment Cost

For wide-area coverage, 5G has the advantage of coverage capability and can reuse the existing 2/3/4G site deployment, and the deployment cost is lower than Wi-Fi. But for enterprise LAN scenarios, the cost of building new 5G networks and deploying terminal equipment is much higher than Wi-Fi at present. However, since 5G has more advantages in anti-interference, reliability, low latency, multiple connections, mobility, etc., for some services with higher requirements for latency, reliability, etc., such as automated control, 5G private networks still need to be deployed. In the medium and long term, it is believed that the deployment cost of 5G private networks will decrease, and once the cost drops low enough, it is believed that more companies will consider replacing part or all of the Wi-Fi network with 5G.

In general, 5G and Wi-Fi 6 are both competitors and complements. At the same time, with the evolution of technology and applications, entering the 5G and Wi-Fi 6 era, the boundary between cellular networks and Wi-Fi is becoming increasingly blurred.