Another major advantage of 11ac 2×2 or higher-standard routers is that these support multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO). To explain further, any router standard below ac, including 11n, can transmit data to only one device (single user) at a specific time interval, causing other connected devices to wait for the data, irrespective of the antenna. This results in a comparatively slow speed when multiple devices connect to the same router.
On the other hand, 11ac routers can interact with multiple devices (generally four devices) simultaneously at a given instance, exponentially increasing the network experience. In simpler words, routers with more advanced IEEE standard ratings perform better.
Bonus features
You may consider a few more features depending on your business requirements. For instance, check whether the router supports IPv6 for the new-generation networking. To access your business network from a distant location, VPN compatibility is required. Protocol examples include PPTP, L2TP, IPSec and so on. A router that hosts multiple service set identifiers (SSIDs) can be useful for separate guest access to the business network.
A glimpse into the market
For typical needs of small offices or home offices, a single router can cost anywhere between ₹ 1500 and ₹ 4000. Some of the prominent brands include D-Link, TP-Link, Asus, Netgear, Linksys, Cisco, Binatone and Buffalo. The Internet is the backbone of businesses today. Therefore finding the best wi-fi router for the purpose has no alternatives.
