Page 83 - SAMENA Trends - August 2020

ARTICLE SAMENA TRENDS

lower the costs of network deployment for by consumers is next-generation Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi technology and, therefore, the
mobile operators and for edge investment offering stronger connections, wider reach connection experience for users, especially
by neutral hosts and third-party providers and lower latency. Using the 5.9 GHz and in densely populated areas such as
(e.g., cable companies, enterprises that 6 GHz bands to support its deployment cities, conferences, stadiums, apartment
want to build private 5G networks to run by tripling the Wi-Fi spectrum, Wi-Fi 6 buildings and office spaces.
factories). Furthermore, combined with networks can be implemented in several
high capacity backhaul, it will also allow environments, including home, business The introduction of Wi-Fi 6 will bring with
gigabit class networks to be deployed and leisure settings, providing users with it security upgrades following last year’s
in rural and suburban environments. constant connection. implementation of the new Wi-Fi Alliance
Consumer costs will definitively be WPA3 security protocol as a standard
lowered. The Importance of Wi-Fi 6 requirement for all Wi-Fi 6 devices. Wi-
A slow internet connection without a Fi 6 also brings increased efficiency to
The 6 GHz band (5925 – feasible solution results in a disrupted the battery life of devices by introducing
service and dissatisfied users. The
Target Wake Time, allowing the device to
7125 MHz) presents an disruption also draws the applications plan its communications with the router to
important opportunity for industry to a halt as they become unwilling ensure that it is only actively updating and
to release ground-breaking apps without a
receiving transmissions when required.
more efficient spectrum reliable platform.
use; it is crucial to allow As the number of IoT
unlicensed access in Wi-Fi 6 eases this cycle of expectations devices rises, projected to
by implementing Orthogonal Frequency-
this band to lay stable Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) to allow reach 13.4 billion devices
foundations for innovation. the transmission of multiple signals at any and connections per
one time by splitting them and sending them
over different frequencies. By allocating capita in the US and 3.6
The 6 GHz band (5925 – 7125 MHz) each signal its own specific frequency to billion worldwide, Wi-Fi 6
presents an important opportunity for streamline the transmission, congestion is
more efficient spectrum use; it is crucial alleviated. This combined with the upgrade is vital to bridging the gap
to allow unlicensed access in this band that Wi-Fi 6 will bring to MU-MIMO in connectivity that exists
to lay stable foundations for innovation. technology results in an increased number
As technology advances, regulators have of communication routes, meaning that globally.
the opportunity to utilize the emerging more data can be transmitted. In fact,
spectrum sharing techniques to address the technology offers speeds up to 40% As the number of IoT devices rises,
the increasing demand for unlicensed faster than its predecessor and allows for projected to reach 13.4 billion devices
wireless devices and Wi-Fi 6 whilst also multiple devices to be operational at once and connections per capita in the US
protecting incumbents in this band, i.e. without disruption. This will revolutionise and 3.6 billion worldwide, Wi-Fi 6 is vital
fixed and satellite links that are key for
backhaul and coverage.

Three different unlicensed operating
classes have been identified in the 6 GHz
band: Very Low Power Portable (VLP), Low
Power Indoor (LPI) and Standard Power.
The Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and several European spectrum
authorities have studied a variety of
mitigation techniques and proposed rules
for the protection of incumbent services,
allowing for those services to grow
while meeting the demand for wireless
broadband services.
By enforcing appropriate sharing
conditions within the 1200 MHz of the 6
GHz band, more spectrum can be freed for
use by other services without interference.
One of the most anticipated advancements

83 AUGUST 2020