Founder and Principal Analyst, ZK Research with a focus on emerging technologies that enable organizations to transform digitally.
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A company’s Wi-Fi network is its foundation, yet many times, it isn’t always prioritized. Although it doesn’t seem like the Wi-Fi is that big a deal in the grand scheme of things, the reality is, if a company’s network isn’t up to date and secure, the company is at risk.
Many companies, no matter the size, depend on Wi-Fi for their overall success. Whether a small coffee shop letting guests hop online or a large manufacturing warehouse that relies on wireless tablets to oversee daily production, the network matters greatly.
Convention centers and event spaces understand the impact of having solid Wi-Fi. The International Association of Conference Centres (IACC) reports that 58% of meeting planners won’t prioritize a venue without an internet performance guarantee. Furthermore, 75% say that free or affordable broadband will be critical in the next 5 years.
When I talk about the importance of upgrading networks, I share an anecdote I heard from an executive at a high-end retailer. They tested a program in which the store had as much merchandise as possible out on the sales floor, and instead of having a counter with registers, they gave wireless tablets to in-store personnel to facilitate purchases and manage inventory. The store’s Wi-Fi, however, was old and slow, and customers lost patience, which means the brand lost sales. The concept was solid: Get as many products from on the floor as possible and rely on handhelds. But because the network hadn’t been modernized, it didn’t work.
In 2021, the importance of a modern and upgraded Wi-Fi network can’t be overstated. But, where to start? The latest version of Wi-Fi technology is called Wi-Fi 6. It’s a substantial upgrade to previous technologies and promises faster speeds and better security. According to Intel, Wi-Fi 6 can result in up to 75% less latency and brings wired and wireless signals closer to parity. Additionally, when compared to Wi-Fi 5, it’s a notable difference when there are more users and more devices using the same bandwidth. When a company has hundreds or even thousands of employees working in the same location, this matters.
One of the main benefits of Wi-Fi 6 is allowing its access points to support more clients in dense environments and provide a better experience for wireless LAN networks. As Cisco states, “It also provides a more predictable performance for advanced applications such as 4K or 8K video, high-density high-definition collaboration apps, all-wireless offices, and the Internet of Things (IoT).”
Wi-Fi 6 is the first big step of bringing Wi-Fi to the future as wireless continues to adapt to changing needs. Here are the reasons companies need to upgrade now.
It improves the network when multiple devices are connected.
Typically, a router can only communicate with a certain number of devices at one time before the network speed starts to take a hit. Wi-Fi 6 includes new technologies (including 1024-QAM, which enables a more than 35% speed burst) that help navigate the many devices connected to the one router. Data can be uploaded and downloaded at faster speeds with less interruptions. Gone are the days when one person’s streaming affected the rest of the office’s internet speed.
Battery life is greatly improved.
Another new technology woven into Wi-Fi 6 is Target Wake Time. As The Verge describes, “It allows devices to plan out communications with a router, reducing the amount of time they need to keep their antennas powered on to transmit and search for signals.” The result? Significantly less drain on batteries and improved battery life. This is hugely important for those employees who regularly give presentations or are always on the move and aren’t always able to plug in.
Wi-Fi 6 means better security.
A couple years ago, wireless security got its biggest upgrade in years. The Wi-Fi Alliance, the organization that regulates Wi-Fi standards, started certifying products that included WPA3, the next gen to the WPA2 security protocol that’s been in use since 2004. And though the rollout of WPA3 has been slow, all Wi-Fi 6 devices are required to have it, which means when you upgrade, you inherently have more security. Secure networks are crucial for businesses like financial institutions or health practices that host sensitive customer information.
Wi-Fi 6 is what companies need to be implementing 2021. If you’re not already using it, push your IT team to integrate sooner rather than later.
Good Wi-Fi requires AI-based analytics.
One of the challenges with Wi-Fi networks is that they are highly dynamic in nature, as devices are constantly coming on and off the network. Consider a venue like an airport, where three hours before a flight, network utilization will be fairly light. Then, two hours later, the gate area is packed with people downloading content for the flight, streaming videos and getting that last email done prior to boarding. Keeping the quality high can be a struggle as the network may need to be reconfigured to handle high traffic volumes or other issues.
Wi-Fi troubleshooting is the most difficult part of running a network. A recent ZK Research study found that some engineers spend up to 25% of their time problem solving Wi-Fi networks. With complexity growing, manual methods are no longer tenable.
Most of the leading Wi-Fi vendors, including Cisco, Arista Networks, Juniper Networks, HPE Aruba and Extreme Networks have introduced AI-based management tools. One recent announcement, which underscores the importance of AI-based Wi-Fi analytics, was the NFL renewing its partnership with Wi-Fi analytics provider Extreme. The NFL is using Wi-Fi to create unique fan experiences, like in-stadium gambling, and to keep Wi-Fi performing optimally in a venue with tens of thousands of people.
Your network – and its speed and security – can be the difference between happy or frustrated customers and employees. Make sure your network is updated and ready for modernization.
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