Wi-Fi 6 Data Transmission over a Low-Voltage Power Line Channel: Implementation and Analysis

The increasing demand for bandwidth-intensive and low-latency applications has made Wi-Fi 6 an essential technology for modern wireless networks. However, the deployment of Wi-Fi 6 often relies on Ethernet cabling, which can be costly and challenging to install, especially in existing structures or where cable routing restrictions apply. This research investigates the integration of Power-Line Communication (PLC) into the Wi-Fi 6 underlay cabling infrastructure, using enterprise-based wireless local area network devices. A direct forwarding method of data transmission was employed to facilitate faster data transfer in the proposed solution. PLC leverages existing electrical wiring to reduce installation costs and simplify deployment in complex environments. The solution enables connectivity for end devices such as computers, phones, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices, either in home environments or within the access layer of hierarchical enterprise-based campus networks, enhancing data transmission where traditional cabling is impractical. Performance analyses, including comparisons with a non-PLC prototype, demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of PLC-Wi-Fi 6 integration as a cost-effective alternative to Ethernet cabling. Wi-Fi 6 was chosen due to its established ecosystem and resource availability at the time of study; however, the proposed PLC framework is adaptable to next-generation technologies like Wi-Fi 7, ensuring future scalability.