IEEE 802.11ac, also known as Gigabit Wi-Fi, introduces significant enhancements to the IEEE 802.11 standard to enable exceptionally high data throughput within the 5 GHz frequency bands. This band offers several advantages, including more available channels and improved channel separation compared to the 2.4 GHz band.

IEEE 802.11ac achieves higher data rates by allowing the bonding of standard 20 MHz channels to create wider channels. Products complying with IEEE 802.11ac are required to support 20, 40, and 80 MHz channels, and the standard also supports the optional use of 160 MHz channels. Additionally, IEEE 802.11ac incorporates improvements in Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) technology and employs an enhanced data coding scheme known as 256-QAM.

IEEE 802.11ac MIMO technology can accommodate up to 8 data streams for a single user. Notably, IEEE 802.11ac introduces the capability to divide MIMO data streams among different users, a feature referred to as Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO). With MU-MIMO, it’s possible to simultaneously serve 2 to 4 different users using up to 4 data streams.

Under optimal conditions, a peak data rate of 6,933 Mbit/s is attainable with 8 data streams in a 160 MHz wide channel. For instance, a smartphone equipped with a single antenna can achieve a maximum speed of 433 Mbit/s in an 80 MHz channel. Devices featuring 4 antennas and 4 data streams can reach a peak data rate of 1,733 Mbit/s in an 80 MHz channel.

This exceptionally high data rate is well-suited for various home digital applications, particularly those involving video streaming and high-bandwidth data transfer.