Connected devices now occupy space in nearly every home and business. These systems impact the local Wi-Fi network by greatly expanding the number of connected devices needing high bandwidth, low-latency communication. Wi-Fi 6 offers solutions to congested local networks via multiuser and network scheduling technology to manage the data flow to each device.
Implementing multiuser technologies, e.g. OFDMA and two-way MU-MIMO, is just part of the solution. It's also important to choose the right tools to realize the potential performance gains fully. Learn more about Wi-Fi 6 technology and how network scheduling works with it.
What Is Wi-Fi 6?
Wi-Fi 6 is the latest Wi-Fi protocol and represents a tremendous upgrade over previous networks. Wi-Fi 6 uses a number of technologies, including beamforming, traffic prioritization and OFDMA, to break up bandwidth in ways that local devices can use it more efficiently. Additionally, the new protocol addresses security issues faced by IoT devices with unique encryption technology, i.e., SAE.
Components of Wi-Fi 6 include:
OFDMA (orthogonal frequency-division multiple access) establishes modulating subcarriers that improve network performance. This technology allows various clients (devices within your home or office) to send and receive data simultaneously.
Beamforming sends a wireless signature to a particular device without broadcasting it multi-directionally. This results in faster, more reliable communication.
Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE) is an encryption protocol requiring password-based authentication and key agreement.
Importance of Network Scheduling
Why should you care about Wi-Fi 6? this smart technology allows devices and routers to communicate faster. In addition, it reduces the required frequency needed for connected devices to send and receive signals.
A network scheduler manages packets transmitted and received by the interface controller. These schedulers are also called packet schedulers, queuing algorithms, queueing discipline and qdisc.
Today, every home contains multiple client devices taking up bandwidth. When these devices operated at the same time, the local network can become congested, resulting in latency and other connection issues. Scheduling technologies result in a better quality of service. Therefore, it's crucial to implement OFDMA and other multiuser technologies.
A network scheduler acts as a traffic cop, managing the sequence of transmitted and received packets via a network interface controller.
Future of Wi-Fi 6
As more and more homes, businesses, and public spaces adopt Wi-Fi 6, IoT and other connected devices will find less competition for the multidirectional signal that feeds the entire network. Combining the new network with 5G will bring about a shift in data and connectivity.
Here are some of Wi-Fi 6's main benefits:
More bandwidth for virtual reality and ultra-HD streaming
Facilitation of simultaneous streams of data at a faster throughput
More total spectrum availability (2.4GHz and 5GHz, now, and 1GHz and 6GHz eventually)
Denser data packets for increase efficiency
Huge performance improvement at network's maximum range
Better outdoor transmission performance
Offload capability when reception is poor
Contemplating Wi-Fi 6 implementation for the future, you may notice a boost in simultaneous upstream connections. This capability will enhance the use of IoT devices and the ability to use this data more efficiently in artificial intelligence and machine learning applications.
Available routers use draft 802.11ax specifications. However, new Wi-Fi 6 devices may be on the horizon.
Wi-Fi 6 will speed up connections for businesses, improving performance for cloud programs and further securing your network from hackers. A risk reduction, increased productivity, and many other factors make Wi-Fi 6 an exciting trend to watch in communication technology.
Valicom provides Telecom Expense Management Systems to help telecom providers streamline their operations from carrier billing to customer invoicing. Contact us today for a free demo.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: NANCY PECKHAM
Nancy Peckham is the Founder and President of Valicom Corporation, a leading telecom expense management and consulting firm in Madison, Wisconsin. Nancy launched the organization as one of the very few women in technology, seeing the gap in services and the opportunity to fulfill the client’s unique needs while leveling the telecom playing field. She has spearheaded Valicom’s evolving services, including a web-based TEM platform that tracks all IT assets and processes multi-level invoice approval for bill payment. To learn more, visit www.valicomcorp.com.