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Wireless & Mobility · Foundational

Channel Width

The amount of spectrum a Wi-Fi channel occupies: 20, 40, 80, 160, or 320 MHz.

Definition

Channel width determines the number of subcarriers and therefore the data rate. Wider channels provide higher peak rates but fewer reuse options and higher noise. The primary 20 MHz channel carries beacons and control frames.

Exam tip

Recommended widths: 20 MHz in 2.4 GHz; 20-40 MHz in dense 5 GHz; 80-160+ MHz in 6 GHz.

Related terms