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The Internet of Things is one of the biggest tech trends at the moment and is therefore something every network deployer will have to factor into their thinking in the coming years.
When professionals are installing technologies such as wireless access points, indoor mobile network solutions and other supporting infrastructure, they must take into account how they will ensure that a growing number of devices are able to connect at high speeds and without congesting the network.
To do this, it will be important for them to have a full understanding of what technologies will be central to tomorrow's wireless networking, and this means looking at Wi-Fi 6, 5G, L9-Fi and Bluetooth 5.
Emerging standards
All of these wireless connectivity standards are now in commercial use, but it may yet be some time before they are the standard for all deployments. For instance, Craig Mathias, principal with the Farpoint Group, recently told IoT World Today that while 5G is going to happen, it will likely be at least 2023 before the technology reaches "critical mass", and until then, users should expect to encounter bugs.
In the UK, all four of the major mobile operators have launched 5G networks, but for now, their reach remains limited. Early focuses have been on large cities and specific locations that are expected to see high footfall such as transport hubs, as this will be where the highest bandwidth 5G offers will be most useful.
Wi-Fi 6, meanwhile, is currently in the final stages of the rollout process, having been certified for use by the Wi-Fi Alliance in September. It is now awaiting ratification by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
As for Bluetooth 5, the next generation of the technology - which remains the standard for many short-range communications - has surfaced in a range of consumer devices such as the latest iPhones and some high-end headphones.
Competition or collaboration?
One of the big questions for wireless engineers will be how these standards work together, or act in direct competition with one another. For instance, there have been suggestions that the speed and bandwidth offered by 5G will make Wi-Fi 6 obsolete in the future, as mobile carriers will be able to offer in-building 5G services that can outpace Wi-Fi.
However, this is not the case at present. IoT World Today noted that because 5G networks use very high-frequency spectrum called millimetre wave (mmWave), they currently have great difficulty penetrating walls and closed windows, which means such services may actually be less useful even than 4G when it comes to connecting tools like indoor IoT devices.
For many deployments, the major challenge will be ensuring that devices are able to access a high-quality service wherever they are. This means Wi-Fi - and potentially other indoor-focused wireless solutions such as Li-Fi - will therefore remain a critical part of any building's IoT connectivity network for the foreseeable future.
The next question will be how devices move between the various tools that are available without disruption. In order for users to make the most of the new generation of technologies, deployers will need to ensure they are able to enjoy an end-to-end connection that is supported by fast service at all stages, otherwise connections will default back to slower technologies at the weak link in the chain, negating any advantages.
This means, for example, that Wi-Fi 6 access points must be connected using the highest-quality cabling infrastructure, while moving between Wi-Fi, Li-Fi and 5G must be seamless at all times.
Efforts are being made to ensure this, such as OpenRoaming technology which allows instant access to 5G and Wi-Fi 6 networks. This system uses privacy identifiers similar to hotspots, enabling users to move from a 5G network to Wi-Fi and keep sessions active and secure.
It's therefore clear that whenever deployers are planning buildouts for new networking infrastructure, they will have to take various technologies into account to ensure the best performance for both IoT gadgets and user devices, and these solutions will have to be able to work together rather than in competition.
