Proximus is once again breaking new ground in the Belgian market by being the first operator to offer Wi-Fi 6E technology to its Ultra Fiber customers
Starting July 1, 2024, Proximus will be the first Belgian operator to launch Wi-Fi 6E. This innovative technology, which boasts exceptional speeds and optimum security, while comfortably allowing even more devices to be connected simultaneously, will be integrated into the Internet Box+ and Wi-Fi Booster+. This means customers will be able to enjoy even faster, more powerful Wi-Fi thanks to the addition of a third frequency band. Proximus will initially offer this new technology to its Ultra Fiber customers. But this is just the beginning, as other customers will follow hot on their heels in the coming months.
Today, most homes in Belgium are filled with connected devices. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, smart TVs, games consoles, household appliances, home automation: the list has been growing steadily over the past few years. Until now, all these devices were connected in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. But because of the limited number of channels available and congestion, the risk is that the speed and reliability of the connection will decline at some point, especially when several devices are using the bandwidth intensively.
Eager to anticipate such a development and to continue to guarantee the best customer experience, Proximus is today the first operator in Belgium to launch Wi-Fi 6E. This new technology, which is an extension of the Wi-Fi 6 standard, ensures that the various devices connected are automatically redirected to the most appropriate frequency band according to their compatibility, type of use, proximity to the Internet Box+ and Wi-Fi Booster+(s), and real-time network conditions. Each device therefore gets the most out of a stable and fast connection, without interference or congestion, even when they are all working at the same time.
A new frequency band for greater speed and less interference
The main difference between previous Wi-Fi standards and Wi-Fi 6E lies in the frequency bands used. While Wi-Fi 6 operates in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, Wi-Fi 6E introduces the use of a 6 GHz frequency band, on top of the previous two. As the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands are already heavily used, this new 6 GHz frequency band boosts performance, while offering a wider spectrum.
What's more, Wi-Fi 6E delivers higher data rates and lower latency. The connection is also ultra-reliable, as it has to contend with less interference from other devices and networks. Last but not least, Wi-Fi 6E offers top-notch security thanks to WPA3 and WPA3-Personal-Transition. The most recent devices will be able to connect using WPA3 on all three bands. Devices that can only use WPA2 will still be able to connect to the two frequency bands completely transparently. Finally, a compatibility mode will also be available for devices that don't support these latest advances.
The launch of Wi-Fi 6E lives up to Proximus' ambition of treating its customers to cutting-edge technological advances at all times. Driven by the same spirit that saw the company launch its Internet Box+ in 2023, which was the first Wi-Fi Box to incorporate 10 Gbps technology.
Ultra Fiber customers will be the first to take advantage of Wi-Fi 6E from July onwards. Giga Fiber customers who also have an Internet Box+ will follow gradually over the coming months.
We're very proud of this launch. Not only because it's a first for the Belgian market but also because with Wi-Fi 6E, we've reached a new milestone on our journey to offer an exceptional customer experience. Thanks to our technological leadership, and in particular our Internet on fiber, voted the fastest in Belgium, we are taking a new step towards excellence. Wi-Fi 6E is not just another innovation in our range of services; it is the perfect complement to fiber, ensuring seamless connectivity and unrivalled speed. The figures show that Wi-Fi technology plays a crucial role in our customers' daily lives: 95% of them connect to the Internet via Wi-Fi at home or at work, and they have an average of seven devices connected to the Wi-Fi network at home. This number is increasing every year. That is why it is so important to keep pushing back the limits to maintain seamless connectivity, even with multiple connections.
