Wi-Fi 6, 6E and 7 top the list of wireless technologies that
network operators, ISPs, device and chipset vendors, enterprises and other
companies plan to deploy by the end of 2024 - ahead of CBRS, DAS and private
4G/5G. Furthermore, confidence in investment across the sector is rising with
58% saying they are more confident in investing in Wi-Fi compared to a year ago
even though the business model remains the most pressing challenge for new
deployments. 6GHz spectrum availability also remains front of mind with two
thirds deeming it an important issue for 2024.
Those are two keys finding from the latest cross-industry
report by the Wireless
Broadband Alliance, the global industry body dedicated to improving Wi-Fi standards
and services. Based on input from 200 enterprises, governments, fixed and
mobile operators, vendors and other organizations worldwide, the WBA Annual Industry
Report 2024 showcases how Wi-Fi technology continues to evolve in ways that
anticipate the needs of consumers, businesses, enterprise verticals, smart
cities and service providers.
Highlights from the report's other key findings include:
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Over 41
percent of respondents plan to deploy Wi-Fi 7 by the end of 2024. That amount is in addition to the 7.5% that already
have and shows that the marketplace already sees a strong business case for
Wi-Fi 7.
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By the end of 2024, over 47 percent of respondents plan to add
WBA OpenRoaming or Passpoint
to a new or existing Wi-Fi network. Another 33 percent already have,
which is why WBA OpenRoaming is currently
available at over 3.5 million hotspots worldwide. All of these figures
highlight the strong perceived value of a framework that enables users to
connect automatically and securely instead of constantly remembering and
re-entering credentials.
-
Enabling
seamless interoperability between Wi-Fi and LTE/5G is the top reason for
deploying WBA OpenRoaming. This
feedback shows that the marketplace perceives the relationship between Wi-Fi
and mobile as symbiotic rather than adversarial.
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WBA
OpenRoaming's unique combination of convenience and security is ideal for use
cases beyond just broadband access. "OpenRoaming also offers possibilities for electric
vehicle charging stations as well as seamless onboarding," the report's authors
say. One example is semi- and fully autonomous EVs using charging stations to
download the HD maps they need to navigate safely and successfully while
uploading diagnostic data for preventative maintenance.
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Nearly 70
percent of respondents are either involved with a city-wide public Wi-Fi
deployment or plan to be in 2024 or 2025. This activity highlights the ubiquity of Wi-Fi
devices (including for IoT), the perceived value of using Wi-Fi to bridge the
digital divide and the role that WBA OpenRoaming plays in making it convenient
for residents, tourists and business travellers to connect to public Wi-Fi
hotspots.
The
63 page report also explores how Wi-Fi benefits 14 vertical markets, including
rural communities, connected transportation, health care, aviation and
manufacturing. Another section provides an update on Wi-Fi's technology
evolution, such as IEEE 802.11bf WLAN
Sensing, 802.11bh
Randomized MAC Addresses and 802.11bi Enhanced Data Privacy.
Tiago
Rodrigues, CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance, said: "The WBA Annual
Industry Report 2024 is a must-read for anyone wanting to know exactly
where Wi-Fi is and where it's headed. Market momentum is a theme in many of the
key findings. For example, 58% are more confident in investing in Wi-Fi now
than a year ago - up from 46% last year. Specifically, survey respondents are
stepping up investment in WBA OpenRoaming, Wi-Fi 7 and city-wide public Wi-Fi.
As WBA celebrates its 20th anniversary, we look forward to the next
20 years of pioneering even more Wi-Fi technologies and use cases and
developing a robust trails programme for W-Fi 7 to take innovation into 2024
and beyond."