With users expecting an immersive experience coupled with IoT becoming the new mobile, we are now more dependent on Wi-Fi than ever before.

With the explosion of IoT, everything is connected wirelessly including lighting, heating, badging, security cameras. In hospitals, lifesaving medical equipment is connected, in retail robots are restocking shelves while manufacturing is connecting heavy machinery, in the corporation VIPs can enter a room and have a personalized experience.

With all this opportunity comes risk. Mobility and IoT will expand the attack surface since more of these devices are unmanaged. As attackers innovate, you need to be one step ahead with a smarter, more secure solution that has deep visibility into traffic patterns and the latest intelligence to protect and defend the business.

What this means for the future of wireless networks.

So far, wireless networks have been deployed mainly because of their advantages like extended reach, device flexibility, scalability, and easy installation and management. But with the growing adoption of IoT and preference for mobility, a wireless network will no longer be limited to just access points and controllers. It will be part of an end-to-end networking solution that connects all devices securely while providing high-quality performance that adds more value to the business.

Wi-Fi 6 and 5G

1. Both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G are built from the same foundation – They both provide higher data rates to support new applications and increases in network capacity with the ability to connect more users and devices.
2. They will co-exist and work better together to support different use cases- Both 5G and Wi-Fi 6 bring a promise of dramatically better performance to consumers, mobile workers, and organizations.



3. Wi-Fi 6 will continue to be the access choice for indoor networks – With improvements in speed, latency, and higher density of connected devices, Wi-Fi 6 is ideal for indoor enterprise networks. It’s also an ideal system in areas where access points will serve more users, such as stadiums and convention centers.
4. 5G will be the designated choice for outdoor networks – 5G hasn’t fully rolled yet. However, the early business cases include fixed wireless (broadband backhaul), connected cars, drones, and smart cities make it the preferred method for outdoor networks.
5. Wi-Fi 6 and 5G expand opportunities for digitization across all industries – Both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G offer exciting opportunities to connect more mission-critical IoT devices reliably via wireless. Wi-Fi 6 and 5G will also offer enhanced mobile broadband for immersive experience via augmented and virtual reality.

Wi-Fi 6 and 5G introduce the new era of wireless access. Their convergence enables organizations to do business anywhere while increasing productivity and offering the best user experience.