{"id":52257,"date":"2025-01-14T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-14T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/?p=52257"},"modified":"2025-01-08T09:45:45","modified_gmt":"2025-01-08T09:45:45","slug":"what-does-wifi-stand-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.overclockers.co.uk\/blog\/what-does-wifi-stand-for\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does WiFi Stand For?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ever wondered what does WiFi stand for? If so \u2013 this is the blog post for you!  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve put together this handy guide detailing everything you need to know about WiFi, from what it stands for, and the different standards. In addition to this, we will explore what WiFi standard is popular today and of course showcase some tasty hardware recs to level up your set-up.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Does WiFi Stand For?<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

WiFi is a trademarked term that refers to the different IEEE 802.11x standards. There\u2019s no fancy acronym behind the name \u2013 it’s just a lot easier to say WiFi rather than “IEEE 802.11B Direct Sequence\u2019\u2019 every time…  WiFi is typically incorrectly referred to as Wireless Fidelity, a phrase popularised by marketing materials to help explain the concept. However, WiFi doesn\u2019t officially stand for anything. It\u2019s purely a trademarked brand name and not an abbreviation.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While there is a big misconception that WiFi means the internet<\/strong>, that\u2019s simply not true.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

WiFi is a type of wireless networking technology that harnesses powerful radio waves to grant you access to high-speed internet. It also enables a remote connection between other devices within your home or office. \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What Are the Different Standards of WiFi?\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As hardware, computers, and tech have become more advanced, so have the different IEEE 802.11x standards. This ensures you can keep up with the demands of modern-day technology and delivers instant access to the internet at rapid speeds. But what are the different WiFi standards?  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve broken them all down below.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standard<\/strong><\/th>Name<\/strong><\/th>Release Date<\/strong><\/th>Max Speed<\/strong><\/th>Bandwidth<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
802.11b<\/td>WiFi 1
(unofficial name)<\/td>		1999<\/td>11Mbps<\/td>2.4GHz<\/td><\/tr>
802.11a<\/td>WiFi 2
(unofficial name)<\/td>		1999<\/td>54Mbps<\/td>5GHz<\/td><\/tr>
802.11g<\/td>WiFi 3
(unofficial name)<\/td>		2003<\/td>54Mbps<\/td>2.4GHz<\/td><\/tr>
802.11n<\/td>WiFi 4<\/td>2009<\/td>600Mbps<\/td>2.4GHz and 5GHz\u00a0<\/td><\/tr>
802.11ac<\/td>WiFi 5<\/td>2013<\/td>3.4Gbps<\/td>5GHz<\/td><\/tr>
802.11ax<\/td>WiFi 6<\/td>2019<\/td>10.53Gbps<\/td>2.4GHz and 5GHz<\/td><\/tr>
802.11ax<\/td>WiFi 6E<\/td>2020<\/td>10.53Gbps<\/td>2.4GHz and 5GHz<\/td><\/tr>
802.11be<\/td>WiFi 7<\/td>2024<\/td>40Gbps<\/td>2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Standard Do We Use Today?\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 2025, the most common standards are WiFi 6 and 6E offering speeds of up to 40Gbps and the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz bandwidths which deliver rapid access, higher capacity for more devices, and notably less interference.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, WiFi 7 hit the virtual shelves in late 2024, meaning you can now find routers and motherboards that feature onboard WiFi 7 support. Perfect if your gaming resolution<\/a> is to boost your internet connectivity!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you want to learn more about WiFi 7, we\u2019ve rounded up everything you need to know about this standard in our dedicated blog post. Check it out below.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Learn More About WiFi 7<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Looking to Boost Your Connectivity?\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Are you struggling with slow internet speeds? Why not think about upgrading your router to help boost your connectivity, delivering rapid speeds, quick data transfer speeds, and near-zero interference whilst gaming and working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve picked out our top two routers below, a WiFi 6E and WiFi 7 model, however if these don\u2019t suit your requirements, you can explore all our routers with the click of a button.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Shop Networking<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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ASUS AXE7800 Tri-Band Router<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n