Tiago Rodrigues, CEO of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), has unveiled a set of groundbreaking predictions that are poised to revolutionize the landscape of wireless technology beyond 2024. These predictions foretell a future where connectivity, efficiency, and consumer experiences will be reshaped by the evolution of Wi-Fi networks.
Top Ten Wi-Fi Predictions:
#1 10 Gbps Speeds Become the Norm: With the expansion of fiber broadband globally, home Wi-Fi networks will upgrade to accommodate increased bandwidth, propelling the rapid adoption of Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7.
#2 Wi-Fi 7 Revolutionizes Experiences: The capabilities of Wi-Fi 7 will elevate gaming and video content, driving a predicted 50 percent increase in global gaming revenue. Speed and near-zero latency will redefine gaming experiences.
#3 OpenRoaming Integration with 5G and IoT: OpenRoaming’s growth will integrate with private 5G and IoT networks, foreseeing exponential growth by 2026, enabling seamless connectivity across diverse networks.
#4 Convergence of Wi-Fi and 5G Services: Wi-Fi 6E/7 for indoor use and 5G/cellular for outdoor scenarios will coexist, focusing on collaboration in identity and policy management.
#5 NaaS Spreads to Traditional Enterprises: Network as a Service (NaaS) will rapidly expand beyond early adopters, offering cloud-first, software-defined environments with enhanced security.
#6 AI and ML Transform Network Management: Adaptive AI will revolutionize networks, from Automated Frequency Coordination to predicting resource needs, streamlining troubleshooting and anticipating issues.
#7 6GHz Spectrum Expansion: 6GHz spectrum utilization will flourish, with LP and VPI devices catering to various indoor applications like mesh networks and AR/VR/XR experiences.
#8 IoT Unification via Matter Standard: The Matter standard will unify connectivity across diverse home devices, witnessing exponential adoption within the next few years, strengthening Wi-Fi’s role in smart homes.
#9 TIP Open Wi-Fi Trials in Developing Markets: Cost-effective Wi-Fi solutions like TIP Open Wi-Fi will proliferate in developing nations, offering an open, disaggregated model.
#10 Metaverse Drives Augmented Reality Growth: Augmented and virtual reality will become increasingly prevalent, necessitating network enhancements to accommodate larger user groups and economic growth in the metaverse.
Tiago Rodrigues expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Wi-Fi is at an unprecedented juncture with OpenRoaming addressing challenges across various domains. Wi-Fi’s evolution, including Wi-Fi 7 trials in 2024, promises an exciting future.”
The predictions indicate a paradigm shift, promising enhanced connectivity, enriched experiences, and innovative solutions, poised to redefine the way communities and businesses leverage wireless technology in the years ahead.
