What are the emerging trends and technologies in WLAN?

1 Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6 is the latest generation of Wi-Fi technology, also known as 802.11ax. It was designed to improve the speed, capacity, and reliability of WLANs, especially in high-density environments such as stadiums, airports, and offices. Wi-Fi 6 can deliver up to four times faster data rates, support up to four times more devices, and reduce latency by up to 75% compared to Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). Wi-Fi 6 also introduces new features such as orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA), multi-user multiple input multiple output (MU-MIMO), target wake time (TWT), and 1024 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM), which enhance the efficiency and quality of service (QoS) of WLANs.

2 Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E is an extension of Wi-Fi 6 that operates in the 6 GHz band, which was recently opened for unlicensed use in some countries, such as the US, UK, and Canada. The 6 GHz band offers more spectrum, wider channels, and less interference than the existing 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, which are often crowded and congested. Wi-Fi 6E can deliver up to seven times more throughput, support up to seven times more devices, and provide more consistent and reliable connections than Wi-Fi 6. Wi-Fi 6E also enables new applications that require ultra-low latency and high bandwidth, such as augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and 8K video streaming.

5 WLAN security

WLAN security is another crucial aspect of WLANs that needs to be considered and addressed, especially with the emergence of new trends and technologies in WLAN. WLAN security involves protecting your wireless network and devices from unauthorized access, attacks, or data breaches. WLAN security depends on several factors, such as the encryption, authentication, and authorization methods used, the configuration and management of access points and devices, the policies and procedures followed, and the awareness and education of users. Some of the methods and best practices that can help you enhance your WLAN security include using strong passwords, enabling WPA3 encryption, implementing network segmentation, applying firmware updates, disabling unused features, monitoring network activity, and educating users.

6 WLAN benefits and challenges

WLANs offer many benefits and advantages for users and organizations, such as mobility, flexibility, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and productivity. WLANs enable users to access the internet and other networks from anywhere within the coverage area, without being restricted by wires or cables. WLANs also allow organizations to expand or modify their network infrastructure easily and quickly, without requiring expensive or complex wiring or installation. WLANs can also reduce the operational and maintenance costs of networks, as well as improve the efficiency and collaboration of users. However, WLANs also pose some challenges and drawbacks, such as interference, congestion, latency, security risks, and compatibility issues.

WLANs may face interference from other wireless devices or sources, such as microwaves, Bluetooth devices, or neighboring networks. Congestion or bottlenecks may plague WLANs when too many devices or applications are competing for the same bandwidth or channel. High latency or delays when the signal quality or strength is low or inconsistent can be a WLAN problem. WLANs may also be vulnerable to security threats or attacks, such as eavesdropping, spoofing, or denial-of-service (DoS). They may also encounter compatibility issues when different standards or technologies are used or mixed, such as Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 devices or networks.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?