New rules to avoid interferences

Since various parts of the 6GHz frequency range are already used by fixed, mobile, and satellite services, the FCC commits to protecting these incumbents, while at the same time opening the band to an increase number of unlicensed devices.

Concisely, the FCC wants to introduce four new unlicensed subbands, named U-NII-5 to U-NII-8.

In the case of U-NII-5 and U-NII-7 (respectively, 5.925-6.425 GHz and 6.525-6.875 GHz) a new scheme called Automated Frequency Control (AFC) will protect incumbent users (mostly point-to-point microwave links) from harmful interference.

Conversely, the U-NII-6 and the U-NII-8 subbands (respectively, 6.425-6.525 GHz and 6.875-7.125 GHz) should be only used indoors at a lower power level. In those portions of the 6GHz band, licensed mobile services such as the Broadcast Auxiliary Service and Cable Television Relay Service already operate.

“The Commission tentatively concludes that this two-class approach can expand unlicensed use without causing harmful interference to the incumbent services that will continue to be authorised to use this spectrum,” we read in the NPRM document. Moreover, The U-NII-5 band is currently under study by the European Commission for a possible expansion of WiFi bands in Europe.

The objective of the proposed new rules is twofold:

• To enable unlicensed devices to operate only on frequencies where the devices would not cause harmful interference to authorized licensed services
• To allow a more intense use of a valuable spectrum resource to benefit consumers.

Creating new opportunities for the future of WiFi

The Wi-Fi Alliance praised the results of the October 23rd vote, stating that “the demand for WiFi connectivity has increased manifold while unlicensed access to critically important mid-band spectrum has remained relatively unchanged.”

“Today, more than ever, WiFi is expected to deliver vast amounts of data traffic that comes with broadband services such as 5G,” said Alex Roytblat, Senior Director of Worldwide Regulatory Affairs at Wi-Fi Alliance. “Wi-Fi 6 is designed to support these growing data throughput requirements, and needs additional unlicensed spectrum access to accommodate wider channels and other technical innovations. That is why access to the mid-band, 6 GHz, unlicensed spectrum is so important to Wi-Fi’s future.”

According to Claus Hetting, Executive Director of the WiFi-NOW organization, “The amount of frequencies available for WiFi to operate in could more than double, possibly already by the end of next year. This staggering amount of new spectrum will likely spark a massive new growth cycle for the WiFi industry and allow consumers and businesses to apply low-cost WiFi technology to multitudes of new use cases.”

If you want to develop a WiFi project, our business consultants can help get you started and make the most out of it by understanding your business needs and guiding you through all the different features of the Tanaza platform, showing how they can help you to deploy a successful WiFi project.

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The global economic value of WiFi reaches $1.96 trillion in 2018

Cisco Visual Networking Index update about the global IP traffic from 2016 to 2021

A report commissioned by the Wi-Fi Alliance estimates that the annual global economic value of WiFi is $1.96 trillion in 2018, and predicts that it will grow in the next five years by almost 80%, surpassing $3.47 trillion by 2023.

This report, completed by the Telecom Advisory Services, also points out WiFi’s role in creating job opportunities in different countries by evaluating its impact on different employment categories. It is forecasted that WiFi will create over one million jobs by 2023, a 50% increase in employment rate from 2018.

According to the report, WiFi is having a positive impact on the economy in four main categories:

• Expanding consumer choice by developing alternative technologies (i.e. mesh networking systems);
• Serving as a platform for the creation of innovative business models that develop and deliver unique services (i.e. remote cloud management services);
• Expanding access to communication services for mobile and fixed networks;
• Enhancing the effectiveness of wireline and cellular technologies by complementing them (i.e. with WiFi hotspots).

WiFi’s value to consumers and producers and its contribution to GDP

Due to diverse unlicensed spectrum environments, the true economic value of WiFi has always been difficult to determine. This report defines its economic value by taking into account the tangible, economic gains that WiFi provides to consumers and producers, as well as its net contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Nowadays, WiFi’s value to consumers both inside and outside of the home is indisputable. WiFi is now so pervasive that its availability is taken for granted in many countries and its importance in everyday life often goes unrecognized. Most devices and home appliances use WiFi and are doing so at a growing rate. WiFi was installed in approximately 800 million households around the world and more than 340 million hotspots provided access to consumers, as of 2016.

WiFi also creates value on the production’s end: indeed, equipment manufacturers (access points, routers, gateways, controllers, but also appliances with built-in WiFi capability) and mobile carriers that rely on WiFi to offload traffic from their networks, all profit from its use.

Moreover, WiFi contributes to GDP growth by delivering undeniable social benefits: indeed, it provides a useful application to reduce the digital divide in rural or isolated territories, as well as an essential platform for free Internet access.

The value of WiFi and its growth estimate on six individual markets

In addition to defining WiFi’s economic impact on a global scale, the research also analyzes the individual economies of six different countries, underlining the value of WiFi and stressing the need for adequate unlicensed spectrum to ensure WiFi keeps delivering to economies, businesses and consumers.

The United States is at the top of the list: in this country, WiFi contributes $499 billion in economic value today and is expected to contribute $993 billion by 2023. Japan, Germany, and South Korea follow with respectively $171 billion, $94 billion, and $68 billion in Wi-Fi economic value as of 2018.

A dominant engine in the digital ecosystem

“Wi-Fi has a powerful and often underestimated economic impact all over the world,“ WiFi Alliance president and CEO of Edgar Figueroa stated. “This study brings attention to the tremendous economic benefit from Wi-Fi, and underscores the importance of favorable spectrum policy to ensure Wi-Fi continues delivering even greater economic and societal benefits for many years to come.”

“Wi-Fi technology should be recognized as one of the dominant economic engines of the digital ecosystem,” said Raul Katz, research author and President of Telecom Advisory Services. “Governments should develop the right incentives to stimulate the social and economic benefits of Wi-Fi, including assigning enough spectrum to avoid congestion across the globe, promoting the development of start-ups that rely on Wi-Fi to create applications, and leveraging Wi‑Fi technology to address the digital divide barrier.”

This research is an important step in validating WiFi’s role as a key indicator of economic health and market opportunity, as a new wireless generation approaches.

Indeed, WiFi creates value in different vertical markets, such as hospitality, education, public transportation, healthcare and retail to name a few, and many companies are successful in those sectors using Tanaza WiFi.

If you want to develop a WiFi project, our business consultants can help get you started and make the most out of it by understanding your business needs and guiding you through all the different features of the Tanaza platform, showing how they can help you to deploy a successful WiFi project.

Related articles:

Cisco Visual Networking Index update about the global IP traffic from 2016 to 2021

How many access points do you need for your WiFi hotspot

Paid WiFi: how to configure a couponing system

• Mobilise
• Tanaza
• Aptilo Networks

Wi-Fi NOW Award for Affordable Connectivity:

• PT Telkom Indonesia (for Wifi Corner -WiCo)
• Google (for Google Station)
• InLink UK

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https://www.classichotspot.com/blog/tanaza-attends-wi-fi-now-europe-2018/

https://wifinowevents.com/news-and-blog/eight-wi-fi-now-award-winners-announced-in-berlin/