WiFi Standards (IEEE 802.11)

Wi-Fi generations, speeds, and frequencies.

The IEEE 802.11 family defines wireless networking, and the Wi-Fi Alliance's generation numbers (Wi-Fi 1 through Wi-Fi 7) map each standard to a consumer-friendly name. 802.11n brought 2.4 and 5 GHz, 802.11ac added the 5 GHz-only sixth generation, 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E) added the 6 GHz band, and 802.11be (Wi-Fi 7) is the current flagship standard.

Every new generation pairs a higher maximum data rate with better efficiency in crowded environments. The practical difference between generations shows up in real-world throughput, latency, and client capacity far more than in the theoretical maxima printed on boxes: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) is fine for most browsing, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) matters when many devices share an access point, and Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) targets multi-gigabit links and low-latency workloads.

Keep this table handy when evaluating access points, client devices, or the Wi-Fi claims on spec sheets.

Standard	Wi-Fi Name	Max Speed	Freq	Year
802.11b	Wi-Fi 1	11 Mbps	2.4 GHz	1999
802.11a	Wi-Fi 2	54 Mbps	5 GHz	1999
802.11g	Wi-Fi 3	54 Mbps	2.4 GHz	2003
802.11n	Wi-Fi 4	600 Mbps	2.4 + 5 GHz	2009
802.11ac	Wi-Fi 5	6.9 Gbps	5 GHz	2014
802.11ax	Wi-Fi 6 / 6E	9.6 Gbps	2.4 + 5 + 6 GHz	2019/2021
802.11be	Wi-Fi 7	46 Gbps	2.4 + 5 + 6 GHz	2024

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current WiFi standard?

Wi-Fi 7 (IEEE 802.11be) is the current flagship standard. Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E (IEEE 802.11ax) remain the mainstream choices for enterprise and consumer devices, and Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac) is still widely deployed. Most current access points are Wi-Fi 6/6E with Wi-Fi 7 models arriving for high-density and multi-gigabit deployments.

What are the WiFi generations?

The Wi-Fi Alliance numbers each 802.11 standard as a generation: Wi-Fi 1 (802.11b), Wi-Fi 2 (802.11a), Wi-Fi 3 (802.11g), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 6 and 6E (802.11ax), and Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be). Each generation added speed and efficiency: 802.11n introduced MIMO, 802.11ac brought wider channels, 802.11ax added OFDMA for crowded networks, and 802.11be targets multi-gigabit links.

Which WiFi standard has the fastest maximum speed?

Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be) has the highest theoretical maximum, around 46 Gbps, using 320 MHz channels in the 6 GHz band, 4K QAM, and multi-link operation. Real-world throughput is far lower, typically 2-5 Gbps depending on client hardware, distance, and channel width.

What is 802.11r?

802.11r is Fast BSS Transition, the amendment that speeds up roaming between access points. It pre-establishes the security keys a client will need on the next access point, so the handoff takes milliseconds instead of a full authentication exchange. It matters most for voice calls and any device that moves while staying connected.

What is the difference between 802.11k, 802.11r, and 802.11v?

802.11k lets a client ask for a neighbor report so it knows which access points are nearby, 802.11v lets the infrastructure suggest a better access point through BSS transition management, and 802.11r handles the fast, secure handoff between them. Modern Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 products usually support all three together under the label of fast roaming.

What is 802.11?

IEEE 802.11 is the base standard for wireless LANs, first published in 1997 and revised many times since. Each amendment adds a capability or a new generation, so 802.11ax is Wi-Fi 6 and 802.11be is Wi-Fi 7, while letters such as r, k, and v describe roaming and management features rather than a new speed.

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