Exploring ONU Wi-Fi Performance: Can Wi-Fi 6 ONUs Meet Multi-Device Demands?

With the widespread adoption of fiber-optic networks, the ONU - an essential component in fiber-to-the-home deployments, directly affects the user's network experience. Wi-Fi 6 technology enhances the connection efficiency and concurrent performance of ONU Wi-Fi, especially in multi-terminal scenarios. But what exactly is a Wi-Fi 6 ONU? And how does it improve connection quality and support for concurrent devices? This article explores these questions and compares the performance differences between AX1500 and AX3000 models.

Introduction of Wi-Fi 6 Technology

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) is the latest generation of wireless network standards. It supports more simultaneous device connections, with MU-MIMO enabling efficienct communication between the router and multiple devices at once. Compared to previous Wi-Fi generations, Wi-Fi 6 offers advantages including:

• Higher transmission rates: Supports higher modulation methods (such as 1024-QAM) and broader channels (some high-end devices support 160MHz bandwidth), with theoretical speeds up to 9.6Gbps.

  
  

• Lower latency: Wi-Fi 6 leverages OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) technology to improve bandwidth allocation efficiency, reducing latency caused by device contention in multi-user environments.

  
  

• Stronger multi-device support: MU-MIMO (multi-user multiple input multiple output) technology allows the router to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously, significantly enhancing concurrency.

Integration of Wi-Fi 6 into ONU Wi-Fi

As the terminal device in fiber-optic networks, an ONU with integrated Wi-Fi 6 delivers a faster and more stable wireless experience for users. The advantages of Wi-Fi 6 ONU include:

• Higher connection efficiency: With OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies, a Wi-Fi 6 ONU can efficiently manage simultaneous connections from multiple devices,  reducing network congestion.

  
  

• Stronger signal coverage: Wi-Fi 6 utilizes beamforming technology to enhance signal strength in specific directions, improving both coverage range and signal penetration.

  
  

• Lower power consumption: TWT (Target Wake Time) technology optimizes the wake-up mechanism of terminal devices, reducing power consumption and extending battery life.

Comparison of Terminal Support Capabilities between AX1500 and AX3000

The AX1500 and AX3000 are Wi-Fi 6 ONU models with distinct specifications, each optimized for specific performance needs to suit diverse network demands.

AX1500

• Theoretical speed: Dual-band concurrent speed up to 1501Mbps (2.4GHz 300Mbps, 5GHz 1201Mbps).

  
  

• Terminal support: Suitable for typical households or small offices, supporting about 20-30 simultaneous device connections but may encounter performance bottlenecks under heavy load conditions.

  
  

• Application scenarios: Suitable for users with basic network needs, such as everyday browsing and video streaming.

AX3000

• Theoretical speed: Dual-band concurrent speed up to 3000Mbps (2.4GHz 574Mbps, 5GHz 2402Mbps).

  
  

• Terminal support: Supports more simultaneous device connections, theoretically supporting about 50-100 devices, suitable for high-density environments such as 4K video collaboration, SMEs, or high-density smart homes.

  
  

• Application scenarios: Suitable for users with high network requirements, such as 4K streaming, online gaming, and multi-device smart homes.

By integrating technologies such as OFDMA and MU-MIMO, Wi-Fi 6 ONUs significantly improve connection efficiency and the ability to support concurrent devices. The AX1500 is suitable for typical home users, while the AX3000 is better suited for high-density scenarios with greater performance requirements. With the widespread adoption of Wi-Fi 6 technology, ONU Wi-Fi will offer even stronger multi-device support in the future, enhancing the overall user network experience.