The Wi-Fi Alliance has launched the second version of its current iteration, the 802.11ac, having great major changes. "Wave 2" is a variant which improves the saturation and speed in networks with features such as multi-user MIMO or greater range of channels.
The second wave will bring greater efficiency to applications that require heavy use of bandwidth, such as Netflix and video in 4K. All this in an environment where everything starts to be connected, from smartphones to multiple different devices, where it also points the new Bluetooth 5.0.
They now add the MU-MIMO or multi-user MIMO. Networks with this feature are able to handle multi-tasking data, sending data to multiple devices at once instead of each separately, which brings more efficiency and better delivery speed. If the required data are the same, there will be no speed reduction. As channels, the bandwidth extends from 80 MHz to 160 MHz, which is double the speed.
Some devices and routers factory already had some of the features presented, but either were not activated or they had nothing to operate. Software updates will help the second wave of Wi-Fi AC expand fast in them. The Wi-Fi Alliance, meanwhile, hopes that by 2020, 95% of devices support dual-band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) and in another 5 years, most already support this second wave of Wi-Fi AC.