20 Years of Technological Advances Have Changed How We Live, Work, and Play
In 1997 Wi-Fi was invented and released to consumers, forever changing the landscape of professional and personal computing. By enabling device mobility and IoT applications, we’ve gone from being “tethered” to our desks, to being able to work from anywhere, at any time.
Over 20 years later, Wi-Fi 6 was introduced in 2019 and has been used to support a host of applications, incorporating a number of enhancements that make it a great fit for IoT and remote connectivity applications. And, when combined with 5G cellular connectivity, Wi-Fi 6 makes an even bigger impact.
Multi-User MIMO Increases Throughput And Reduces Latency
For the first time, Wi-Fi 6 delivers levels of bandwidth and low latency that are on par with broadband networks. By incorporating multi-user, multiple input, multiple output functionality (MU-MIMO), Wi-Fi 6 allows a single router to communicate with multiple devices at the same time via dedicated data streams.
Unlike single-user MIMO, where multiple data streams can only communicate with one device at a time, MU-MIMO significantly increases throughput and reduces latency, which is critical in environments where multiple devices may be streaming high-bandwidth content.
MU-MIMO routers come in different configurations, including 2X2, 3X3, and 4X4. These configurations indicate the number of supported streams. For example, a 4X4 MU-MIMO router has four antennas for four data streams. Wi-Fi 6 supports transmissions on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.
Wi-Fi 6/5G Enable Powerful Connectivity and IoT Applications
The powerful combination of both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G connectivity has enabled many new applications, especially in the public safety and transit industries. Vehicle area networks (VANs) powered by Wi-Fi work alongside sitewide networks for transit, public safety, EMS, air and water quality monitoring, and other applications.
Deployed in conjunction with 5G cellular networks, these Wi-Fi networks are able to link back to central repositories where data is stored and processed, with 5G/Wi-Fi routers bridging the two networks
Police Vehicles
When installed in a police vehicle, a 5G/Wi-Fi router enables law enforcement devices like dash cameras, body cameras, laptops, and automated license plate readers (ALPRs) to transmits data, such as field logs and video files, via the 5G network to the police administration building.
When the police vehicle returns to the station, the vehicle Wi-Fi connects directly to the depot Wi-Fi for video archive uploads. By utilizing multiple 4x4 MU-MIMO access points, multiple law enforcement vehicles can upload video at the same time - a process that is quite time-consuming with single-user MIMO.
Public Transportation
In situations where two independent Wi-Fi systems are necessary, such as on public transit, a MU-MIMO Wi-Fi 6 solution will greatly enhance overall performance and security. Additionally, a 4x4 MU-MIMO configuration is four times faster than a 2x2 Wi-Fi solution.
On a bus, for example, one W-Fi 6 radio is dedicated to operations, and another is for passenger use so that they can check emails and stream videos during their journey. The passenger Wi-Fi traffic may be steered to a dedicated cellular link, delivering enhanced security while completely isolating that traffic from internal operations traffic.
Fire, EMS, and Emergency Utility
Fire services, emergency medical services, and emergency utility services can use Wi-Fi 6 to access Wi-Fi mission-critical applications.
The speed of Wi-Fi 6 and the ability to operate better in crowded Wi-Fi environments help to ensure reliable communications between vehicles, dispatch/depots, and hospitals. A Wi-Fi 6 router can create a vehicle area network (VAN) that enables connectivity between all connected devices in an emergency vehicle and can also connect it to the 5G network so that data can be fed from an operations center to the vehicle in the field.
Retail and Commercial
In commercial settings, using Wi-Fi 6 in conjunction with 5G helps ensure that multiple users in crowded environments have access to the high speeds and low latencies they need. For example, a retail branch environment must support point-of-sale (POS) devices in addition to employee and customer laptops, tablets, and cell phones.
Sierra Wireless pioneered combined Wi-Fi 6/5G cellular routers and continues to lead the industry in delivering fast, reliable, and secure connectivity for users in business, government, and education. The Sierra Wireless AirLink® XR90 5G and AirLink® XR80 5G routers connect users, vehicles, and IoT devices in an ever-expanding array of applications.
About USAT
USAT serves the nation’s critical infrastructure by creating secure communication networks that pass data wirelessly between key systems - linking remote personnel, locations, and machine assets.
USAT sells, designs, configures, and installs 4G and 5G wireless data communications hardware and software, providing targeted IoT connectivity solutions that fit our clients' exacting needs from top manufacturing partners like Sierra Wireless.
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