FEATURE: WI-FI DEPLOYMENT
dwell time analytics and use targeted
advertisement systems
• Enterprise: Improved efficiency and
network performance offer better data
connectivity to serve high productivity
needs. This includes drastic improvements
for Wi-Fi calling, and enabling more
simultaneous voice calls over extended
coverage areas
• Smart cities (outdoor): Enhanced
throughput and extended range to enable
better last mile point-to-point or point-
to-multipoint wireless links, high density
capabilities to support extreme IoT
densities, and to support the backhaul for
hyper-dense 5G deployments
• Smart villages (last mile): Higher
throughput and increased range
make it suitable for delivering last
mile connectivity as an alternative to
conventional copper and fibre, while
compatibility with existing 2.4GHz
devices ensures ease of adoption
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• Residential (single and multi-dwelling):
Increased throughput and improved
range, more effective use of spectrum
in multi-dwelling units to allow for more
throughput and less contention between
neighbours; smaller channel widths and
more simultaneous users facilitate the
deployment of a mesh network to extend
coverage and seamlessly support lower
power IoT
Complementing
cellular networks
Nearly 70% of smartphone data is carried
over Wi-Fi networks, and it is clear that
cellular deployments in licensed spectrum
have not been able to keep pace with
consumer demands for wireless data.
This has led to the acceptance of Wi-Fi as
an important complement to cellular access,
and 3GPP’s definition of its 5G Core Network
IT IS CLEAR THAT CELLULAR
DEPLOYMENTS IN LICENSED
SPECTRUM HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE
TO KEEP PACE WITH CONSUMER
DEMANDS FOR WIRELESS DATA.
re-enforces this with the ability to better
integrate with Wi-Fi networks as well as its
5G defined New Radio (NR).
3GPP, the 3rd Generation Partnership
Project, is the organisation that has set
standards for mobile telecommunications,
right from GSM till today’s 5G.
Equipment vendors are set to have equipment
available locally later this year, subject to
getting approvals from ICASA, while the
launch of Wi-Fi 6 compatible System-on-
Chip (SOC) and devices were announced at
Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. There
is also a focus in 5G cellular to improve
its competitiveness with Wi-Fi, including
defining support for operation in unlicensed
spectrum as well as adopting a more flexible
authentication framework.
While these investments may potentially
pay dividends in the years to come, Wi-Fi
6 is already at our doorstep to meet the
ever-growing demand for wireless data. In
the meantime, South African companies
should familiarise themselves with Wi-Fi 6,
and the ways in which they can use it to
enhance their business operations. However,
as often observed with the introduction of
new technologies, it will be smaller more
agile businesses who are the first to adopt,
in an effort to gain an advantage over the
competition – and bigger companies will
eventually be left with no option but to
respond similarly. n
Africa’s Wi-Fi
growth is in
full force
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