New WiFi Naming Protocol

New WiFi Naming Protocol – WiFi 6

We are expecting the imminent release of a new Wireless standard based on IEEE standards 802.11ax which will simply be known as “WiFi 6”.

The hopes are that this new WiFi version will offer faster access: higher data rates, increased capacity, and overall enhanced performance.

“What is it called?” I hear you say. Well, apparently gone are the days of the complicated historical nomenclature. In order to make the highly complex terminology more accessible to us mere mortals, the WiFi Alliance has voluntarily announced its simplification of the naming protocol:

802.11b to be known as Wi-Fi 1
802.11a to be known as Wi-Fi 2
802.11g to be known as Wi-Fi 3
802.11n to be known as Wi-Fi 4
802.11ac (current) to be known as Wi-Fi 5
802.11ax (the new one) to be known as Wi-Fi 6

What is going to make life much easier, for those of us who are not initiated within the “inner circles” of Wireless, is that devices are to be labeled simply as “Wi-Fi x compatible” (where x indicates the compatible standard, i.e., Wi-Fi 6 for 802.11ax, etc.) by the use of simple little logos:

This will make it so much easier when purchasing WiFi-enabled hardware. Purchasers can immediately see with which standard their device is compatible.

The “high wizards” of the wireless community may not be too keen on the curtain being drawn back on their “dark magic” and the mystique surrounding the standards being simplified.

But, from a non-technical perspective, this bold move seeks to make the technology more accessible to the masses and will, in time, promote its wider use and, I am sure, ultimately give greater job security to those who are privy to the more complex inner-workings of wireless technology… because, as consumers, we are bound to mess up somehow and will need their help to fix it.

Learn More

To learn more, check out our range of Wireless-focused IT industry certification training classes:
CWNP (Associate level) Wireless Network Administrator: CWNA
CWNP (Professional level) Wireless Network Security: CWSP
CWNP (Professional level) Wireless Network Design: CWDP
CWNP (Professional level) Wireless Network Analysis: CWAP
Cisco CCNA (Associate) level: WiFUND
Cisco CCNP (Professional) level: WiDESIGN , WiDEPLOY , WiSECURE , WiTSHOOT
Cisco CCIE (Expert) level: CIEWL1

NC-Expert Blog

Know Your Tech

By Rie Morgan • April 30, 2026

Meet the Team: Repeaters, Hubs, Bridges, Switches, Modems, Gateways, and Access Points When you first step into networking, the equipment can feel like a cast of characters in a technical drama. Each device has a role. Some are veterans from networking’s early days. Others are modern specialists. Together, they form the backbone of how devices communicate.

The 3 Pillars of the CIA Triad… Plus Two

By Rie Morgan • April 27, 2026

When people first start working with wi-fi security, or enter the cybersecurity arena, they quickly hear about something called the "CIA Triad". (No, not that CIA!) In cybersecurity, the CIA Triad stands for: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability . These three principles form the foundation of information security. Nearly every security control, policy, and technology decision can be traced back to protecting one (or more) of these pillars. But in real-world IT environments, there are two additional principles that deserve seats at the table: Authenticity and Non-Repudiation . Together, these five ideas provide a practical framework for understanding what security is actually trying to achieve. Let’s walk through them...

Enterprise Wi-Fi Network Security

By Rie Morgan • April 15, 2026

Wi‑Fi security is no longer just an IT checkbox; it is a business risk issue that affects data protection, uptime, customer trust, and compliance. Strong wireless security helps businesses keep unauthorized users out, protect sensitive traffic, and reduce the chance that a single compromised access point (AP) becomes a wider network breach.

New WiFi Naming Protocol – WiFi 6