802.11ad vs 802.11ay: Key Differences in WLAN Technologies

This page delves into the comparison between WLAN technologies 802.11ad and 802.11ay, highlighting the key differences between them.

WLAN 802.11ad: An Introduction

The WLAN 802.11ad standard is the successor to the IEEE 802.11ac standard, often referred to as WiGig. It’s designed to provide very high data rates (around 7 Gbps) over short distances, typically ranging from 1 to 10 meters. It operates in the 60 GHz frequency band.

IEEE 802.11ad is suitable for applications requiring rapid data transfer within a limited area.

Here are some key features of WLAN 802.11ad:

• Frequency Range: Utilizes unlicensed frequency allocations around 60 GHz (specifically, 58.32 GHz, 60.48 GHz, 62.64 GHz, and 64.80 GHz).
• Backward Compatibility: Not backward compatible with 802.11ac or 802.11n. It was built from the ground up to deliver extremely high data rates for short-range wireless connectivity.
• Number of Channels/Channel Bandwidth: Offers 4 channels, each with a wide bandwidth of 2.16 GHz.
• Data Rate: Achieves throughputs of 7 to 8 Gbps.
• Distance: Operates effectively over distances of about 10 meters or more, especially with beamforming enabled.

WLAN 802.11ay: An Introduction

Considered the successor to the 802.11ad standard, 802.11ay also operates in the 60 GHz frequency band. Its main goal is to achieve a maximum throughput of at least 20 Gbps while maintaining or improving power efficiency per station. It incorporates channel bonding and MU-MIMO (Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output) technologies.

Channel bonding refers to the process of combining multiple channels to achieve a wider bandwidth.

Key features of WLAN 802.11ay include:

• Data Rate: Provides a throughput of about 20 to 40 Gbps.
• Distance: Operates effectively over distances of approximately 300 to 500 meters.
• Maximum Bandwidth: Supports a maximum bandwidth of 8.64 GHz by bonding four channels, each having a 2.16 GHz bandwidth.
• MIMO: Supports MIMO with a maximum of four streams.
• Modulation: Supports higher-order modulation schemes, such as 256-QAM.
• Band Switching: Allows for seamless handoffs between 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 60 GHz bands.
• Channel Bonding: Supports both contiguous and non-contiguous channel aggregation.
• MIMO Support: Supports SU (Single-User) and downlink MU-MIMO.
• Physical Layer Technologies: Utilizes technologies like OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing), SC (Single Carrier) with 64-point non-uniform constellation, and LDPC (Low-Density Parity-Check) codes.

802.11ad vs 802.11ay: Key Differences

The following table summarizes the key differences between 802.11ad and 802.11ay: