Skip to main content

D-Link is the latest company to get an early start on 802.11ax routers

D-Link is the latest company to get an early start on 802.11ax routers

/

How does 11,000 Mbps internet speeds sound?

Share this story

D-Link AX6000 Ultra Wi-Fi Router
D-Link AX6000 Ultra Wi-Fi Router
Image: D-Link

802.11ax is the next big jump in Wi-Fi, designed to be faster and better at coping with handling large numbers of devices connected at one time, as is increasingly common in our houses and offices. It’s also not actually quite finished, with the Wi-Fi Alliance not actually planning on product certification for the new standard until next year.

Still, that hasn’t stopped companies from releasing what are theoretically 802.11ax routers anyway, even if there’s basically no laptops, phones, computers, or pretty much any other hardware out there that will be able to take advantage of the spec. Which brings us to D-Link, which at CES 2018 has not one, but two 802.11ax routers to announced: the dual-band AX6000 Ultra Wi-Fi Router and the tri-band AX11000 Ultra Wi-Fi Router.

Both routers offer what sound like almost impossible speeds on paper: the AX6000 clocks in at 6,000 Mbps, while the AX11000 claims to offer a whopping 11,000 Mbps. D-Link isn’t saying too much more about the two so-called “Ultra” routers, other than offering a vague “second half of 2018” release date, with prices (unsurprisingly) yet to be announced.

Covr routers
Covr routers
Image: D-Link

In addition to its ambitious 802.11ax routers, D-Link also announced some more immediately practical devices at CES. There are two new options for the company’s Covr mesh network system, a dual-band set sold in a $249.99 three pack, which will be available sometime in Q1 2018, an a tri-band two pack for $319.99 set to release sometime in Q2.

AC2600
AC2600
Image: D-Link

Lastly, D-Link is partnering with McAfee to release the AC2600, a dual-band 802.11ac with extra security features designed to help protect connected devices, with a particular focus on IoT smart gadgets and parental controls. It’ll be available in Q2 2018, although no price has yet been announced.