Craig Blignaut, Product Manager: WiFi at Vox.
IA typical enterprise has many different applications that need to be used by different stakeholders. These different applications also require different types of network technologies in terms of speed and latency to function optimally. One of these technologies is WiFi. Next-generation wireless will bring new opportunities to local businesses in the year ahead, as WiFi is not only growing in popularity, but also in functionality.
Much of this hinges on the introduction of the WiFi 7 standard, which the WiFi Alliance expects to be complete and fully implemented by the end of the first quarter of 2024. Some WiFi equipment manufacturers are already selling routers and accesses equipped with WiFi 7. On the other hand, there are very few user devices on the market, such as high-end smartphones, that have similar functionality and will be able to take full advantage of this standard.
In South Africa, the adoption of new WiFi standards is often delayed by a year or two, which could prove to be a blessing in disguise. Due to delays in completing the WiFi 7 standard, the country is in a position to leapfrog its current gold standard, WiFi 6e. Here are some trends we’re seeing as WiFi 7 adoption increases.
Enabling high-bandwidth, low-latency applications
WiFi 6e offers up to 10 Gbps of bandwidth, while WiFi 7 delivers up to a theoretical peak bandwidth of 30 Gbps and sub-5ms latency. These low latencies enable applications such as real-time automation, where artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) can be used to improve factory and manufacturing operations without data packet loss that can cause errors. can be executed.
For consumers, the introduction of this wireless technology standard could encourage more people to engage in social gaming, esports, and even 8K streaming as the experience improves. Additionally, PC and console enthusiasts can also enjoy multiplayer gaming while using a wireless connection due to low latency. And after years of buzz, next-generation wireless headsets are finally driving increased adoption for both personal and professional use of applications like virtual reality, augmented reality, and even mixed reality. There is likely to be.
Smarter next generation network
Current generation access points provide a “best effort” network, but when the access point is loaded, latency increases. This is similar to what can occur when using other wireless technologies such as 4G/LTE and 5G. This is different from, for example, using fiber optics, where you can have service level agreements (SLAs) in place and provide a guaranteed experience.
Next-generation networks, on the other hand, will be “deterministic” networks with software-programmable WiFi radios to ensure optimal network capacity and efficiency, resulting in higher reliability and lower latency. Designed as an end-to-end network fabric, it also includes new features such as Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN) and Virtual Extensible Local Area Network (VXLAN). EVPN and VXLAN provide the flexibility for enterprises to better manage campus and data center networks as more endpoints are added to the network, such as mobile devices and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Masu.
Unified management across access technologies
Within the enterprise, there will be increasing focus on implementing unified policy management for multi-radio access technologies. This allows different standards such as WiFi 6e, WiFi 7, private 5G, and wired access points to all work together under a single enterprise network. This ensures consistent policy enforcement across different technologies and provides seamless handover when users switch between different technologies.
We will also see IoT play a larger role within the enterprise as more sensing devices are deployed and will need to be supported by connectivity. In response, vendors are incorporating more and more IoT technology into their access points, while organizations are using unified policy management to ensure that IoT or machine-to-machine (M2M) devices such as Zigbee are You can also incorporate low-power wireless networks. Part of a single corporate network.
Prioritize user experience
WiFi 6 and WiFi 6e provided increased bandwidth capacity even when used in high-density deployments with large numbers of users connecting simultaneously. As is usual with new generations, WiFi 7 has to offer more than that. While previously the focus has been on increasing overall bandwidth and improving network speed, with WiFi 7 the priority shifts to ensuring a high-quality WiFi experience for the end user.
This includes features such as 8×8 MIMO (Multiple-Input Multiple-Output). This is a wireless technology that uses multiple transmitters and receivers (in this case eight of each) to transfer more data simultaneously. These dedicated radios can also track users as they roam and seamlessly transfer users between access points to ensure the best user experience.
Improving wireless security
Because WiFi is so ubiquitous, we utilize WiFi Protected Access (WPA) technology to keep information passed over WiFi networks secure. The current standard, WPA3, offers modern security protocols and more robust authentication, including 192-bit security to protect more sensitive data.
However, you cannot enable WPA3 unless all devices on your network support this latest security standard. When it comes to wireless security, the standards used revert to those that can be used by the least capable devices on the network. For example, if you have devices that are still using WPA2, that becomes the standard for your entire network. will be secured. As cybersecurity threats increase, more older equipment and devices are expected to be removed from networks to maintain higher levels of security.
Businesses need to keep in mind that switching to WiFi 7 can create bottlenecks in other areas of the network, which may require infrastructure upgrades or redesigns, including the use of managed switches. This means that it may become. Increases overall network bandwidth. If your other equipment, such as routers, switches, and cables, are not up to par, you won’t be able to take full advantage of the benefits that WiFi 7 brings. Here, we work closely with leading equipment vendors, conduct comprehensive needs assessments, and work with technology experts like Vox who can provide the right reasons for why a particular solution or technology should be used in your organization’s network. We need to work together.
After all, WiFi 7 is about giving customers more choice. Wireless has long competed with wired networks, but the arrival of WiFi 7 is a game-changer. The time has come for those who choose wireless connectivity to no longer have to worry about the drawbacks of increased latency or reliance on “best effort.” ‘Network.
