Introduction
The way we use Wi-Fi is about to change. As well as going much, much faster, it's also about to go far slower. For those wanting to upload and download data superfast while relatively near to a router, the upcoming WiGig will operate at 60GHz and support 'multiple-gigabit data rates' by 2016. The second technology, called IEEE 802.11ah and 802.11af, runs at just 900MHz and will offer very poor data speeds, but works across huge areas. While WiGig will supercharge homes, it's IEEE 802.11ah that will fuel what should probably be renamed the Wi-Fi Internet of Everything.
What is WiGig?
"WiGig, also known as 802.11ad, is known as 'microwave Wi-Fi', as it operates in a different, much higher frequency band, 60GHz," explains Graham Harvey, head of Wi-Fi testing at Farncombe, independent consultants in the TV and video industry. "We expect it to provide low power, very high performance – possibly seven gigabits per second – but over only very short ranges, perhaps one to 10 metres, within a single room in fact."
Exact applications for this are not yet clear, though anyone that lives in an old house with solid walls will already be used to hovering around the Wi-Fi router when downloading something from the BBC iPlayer on an iPad, for instance – doing exactly the same thing to achieve seven gigabits per second seems perfectly acceptable.
The most recent Wi-Fi standard, 802.11ac, may provide similar speeds to WiGig, though only over very short ranges in places where other Wi-Fi devices aren't present.
Will wired networks soon disappear?
Some predict that 802.11ac alone may be fast enough to begin making wired networks redundant. "It is unlikely that we will see those lovely RJ45 connections disappear overnight, but the building blocks are certainly coming into place for much less reliance on them," says Gavin Wheeldon, CEO of Purple WiFi.
Wheeldon adds: "The Wi-Fi Alliance is also backing a 'voice enterprise' initiative to improve the quality of calls over Wi-Fi networks along with a certification program enabling extended power-saving features for existing Wi-Fi installations."
What about Super Wi-Fi and Low Power Wi-Fi?
802.11af, also called Super Wi-Fi or White-Fi, employs unused TV spectrum at frequencies between 54MHz and 790MHz, over very long ranges (possibly several miles). It can offer reasonable throughput, perhaps 24Mb/s. It has similar applications as 802.11ah, also known as Low Power Wi-Fi, which will provide bandwidth for sensors and monitors in gadgets and appliances that will join up to create the Internet Of Things.
Are the upcoming new Wi-Fi speeds overdue?
"I don't see WiGig as being overdue, but I do think its arrival is timely and necessary," says Oliver Neuberger, telecoms specialist and associate partner at IT consultancy Glue Reply.
"As the predictions around the Internet of Things are starting to materialise, more households are purchasing connecting devices for use in every room in the house," he says, adding that, "while most IoT devices are making low bandwidth demands on the router, an increasing number have large data transfer requirements and are currently being hampered by slow connectivity to the household router."
While previously the connection to the ISP was the slowest link in the chain, with the uptake of high speed fibre this is no longer the case.
Possible problems
What kind of gadgets need WiGig?
We're talking video and 4K.
"Household devices such as gaming consoles and video cameras require the ability to transfer large volumes of data to take them to the next level, and the consumer will no doubt benefit from this technology," says Neuberger. "Home computer equipment will be able to become increasingly wireless as short distance, high volume data transfer becomes far better."
Could WiGig run into problems?
The new Wi-Fi technologies don't come without challenges. "The higher frequencies are less able to penetrate buildings and so have a shorter effective range than the Wi-Fi technologies that consumers have become used to," says Neuberger. "This is why, for now, I predict that WiGig will be used alongside existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies commonly used in households, rather than as a replacement."
Neuberger also predicts that as connectivity options for households become increasingly complex we will see a growing industry in helping consumers create low cost home networks.
What is Hotspot 2.0?
"Hotspot 2.0 will enable any end-user to land in a foreign country and look for a Wi-Fi network, rather than a phone network, based on their roaming agreement," says Wheeldon. An initiative based on the 802.11u standard, Hotspot 2.0 is set to change the way we all use free Wi-Fi.
Take those long lists of available Wi-Fi networks, all with a padlock icon next to them, or not. "If it is unlocked you have to ask yourself 'what's on the other side?' It could be paid-for, it could be looking to hijack your information or, as happens many times, nothing happens, as the internet isn't working or it won't connect because it's oversubscribed," says Wheeldon. "The best case scenario is you connect, and then you have to open a browser and go through a registration process."
Step forward Hotspot 2.0, whereby the Wi-Fi provider will broadcast much more detail – you'll instantly be able to see if the Wi-Fi is open, paid-for, whether it requires registration or whether it's being overused already.
"You can make informed decisions about the network very quickly," says Wheeldon. "It will also create a seamless experience where you never interact with the network if you already have credentials in place. That means, if your mobile provider, broadband provider, hardware provider or anyone else has a pre-agreed roaming agreement with the network, they can make all those decisions in the background and just connect you."
How important is Wi-Fi for the future of mobile?
The stunning growth of the mobile internet is fostering both Wi-Fi innovations and the spread of Wi-Fi. In 2013, mobile data traffic was nearly twelve times the size of the entire global internet in 2000, while global mobile data traffic grew by 70% in 2012 and the average smartphone usage rose by 81%.
"Wi-Fi usage will accelerate further, and by 2020 both cellular and Wi-Fi frequency will become completely saturated," says Wheeldon. "This, along with the increase in mobile data usage, is expected to put huge pressure on 3/4/5G networks, creating a need for more blanket coverage while leading to changes in frequency."
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