Despite significant technological disruption across industries over the past two decades, Wi-Fi remains the network connectivity solution for businesses.
However, this dominance is now being challenged as more businesses realize the potential of wireless networking, especially 5G.
This change is driven by the fact that 5G is designed with enterprise needs in mind, which could lead to a transformation of the status quo.
Nokia and Global Data recently surveyed decision makers at multinational companies using wireless networks. The results showed that 80% recognized the need to supplement their Wi-Fi network with alternative edge networking solutions.
This enhancement is essential to take advantage of low latency and on-premises data processing, especially for mission-critical use cases in Industry 4.0.
These decision makers emphasized that integrated networking solutions are critical to improving cybersecurity, reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and realizing many other benefits.
The results of this study reflect how the networking needs/requirements of enterprises have changed.
WiFi and 5G technologies complement each other in modern enterprise networks, with 5G adding a new dynamic to replace traditional network functions that require greater flexibility.
It’s important to look at the characteristics of these two networking technologies to understand where their synergies lie.
A tale of two technologies
The introduction of 5G and Wi-Fi 6/6E has closed the historic performance gap between mobile and Wi-Fi networks.
According to Ookla’s SpeedTest Intelligence data, 5G’s median download speed in Q2 2023 was 201.08, 7.25 times faster than 4G, while WiFi 6’s download speed of 267.47 Mbps was 2.34 times faster than WiFi 5.
Both speeds are fast enough to easily transfer and access large files and accelerate data-intensive applications.
5G and Wi-Fi are still different technologies in many ways. Because Wi-Fi networks operate on an unlicensed spectrum, they can be used by a wide range of devices and are typically less complex and inexpensive to set up. In contrast, the deployment of private 5G networks typically involves the use of licensed spectrum that is difficult to access.
However, 5G offers significant benefits in terms of lower latency, increased mobility, increased capacity, and improved security.
As the Internet of Things (IoT) becomes more prevalent, especially in enterprise environments, fixed cable, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi will continue to play a critical role in supporting legacy systems.
This is especially true in industrial environments where upgrade cycles are slow. In these cases, 5G is a solid option to provide the low-latency connectivity needed for operational technologies that require high capacity, high reliability, mobility, and always-on connectivity to perform direct monitoring and control of industrial equipment. will emerge as.
The benefits of combining Wi-Fi and 5G extend beyond managing upgrade cycles. It’s the perfect solution for businesses to leverage more data-intensive applications and IoT devices for efficiency, reliability, and data-driven decision-making across their operations.
Harnessing synergies
Businesses are increasingly turning to IoT to improve their operations, increasing demand for networks. One of the key requirements is the ability to connect more devices simultaneously without compromising performance.
Wi-Fi 6 has the ability to support approximately 2,000 devices per access point at any given time. 5G, on the other hand, offers a density of up to 1 million connections per km2, making it an even more powerful option.
Another important enterprise requirement is to ensure reliable connectivity with robust failover mechanisms, even under high demand conditions. This is especially true for capital-intensive industries such as manufacturing, where mission-critical data must be constantly flowing to prevent costly downtime. 5G and Wi-Fi 6 both offer failover mechanisms, but they also increase redundancy.
By adding redundancy, businesses can reduce their reliance on wired connections for critical operational technologies and increase network flexibility.
5G’s strong wide-area network coverage also provides opportunities to enhance coverage for enterprise applications that require mobility, such as robotics and smart factory IoT networks.
The synergy between Wi-Fi and 5G offers businesses the opportunity to maximize the benefits of digitizing their operations.
prioritize control
When discussing the future of corporate networks, it’s important to consider the important role that private networks will play. Businesses have long been attracted to the idea of deploying private networks to provide greater control and security by keeping data on-premises and isolated from public networks.
The advent of 5G Standalone (SA) has taken this proposition to the next level. Compared to WiFi, private 5G networks offer much stronger security. 3GPP Release 16 of 5G New Radio (NR) supports a wider range of industrial IoT use cases with improved latency and reliability.
This is a great foundation for 5G SA and enables more advanced network virtualization, including network slicing. The ability to have a “virtual” network that is optimized for the specific needs of a specific application or service.
Private 5G networks give businesses complete control and access to cutting-edge enterprise connectivity applications, especially when 5G SA is applied. Think virtual reality, augmented reality, real-time video analytics, and holographics. Furthermore, the integration of the NR Reduction Capability (RedCap) device further improves cost efficiency and enables precise positioning.
Although 5G private networks have many benefits, they may not necessarily be the best option for every business. To use these networks, businesses must have industrial 5G-capable devices that use chipsets based on Release 16 of the 3GPP standard, which was only recently introduced to the market. It is also important to note that there are multiple ways to deploy a private network, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
Therefore, enterprises must clearly understand their network requirements and capabilities and choose the deployment method that best suits their needs.
apply the right mindset
It’s clear that both Wi-Fi and 5G will play important roles in future enterprise networks. These will serve as a wireless connectivity option to supplement existing wired networks and will eventually be upgraded.
To reap the full benefits of digitizing operations as IoT becomes more prevalent, businesses need to set up networks tailored to their unique requirements that can generate the data needed to apply intelligence. . The key to success lies in prioritizing problem solving and focusing on specific use cases, rather than obsessing over technology. This approach will allow businesses of all types and sizes to realize the benefits offered by his 5G, Wi-Fi 6/6E, and in the near future, his WiFi 7.
