WiFi was first introduced in 1985 as a way to replace Ethernet cables in local computer networks. Over the years, the technology has grown exponentially and has become an integral part of our daily lives. It is now not seen as simply a replacement of ethernet cables, but a technology that is vital for communication. Fon is leading carrier of Wi-Fi provider. They recently published a report that discusses the importance of WiFi as an integrated and customer-centric technology. Fon has highlighted seven key points that will define the Wi-Fi revolution in the coming years.
Firstly, Wi-Fi Offloading will increase dramatically as mobile data traffic booms, fueled by video. Technology giant Cisco, expects a sevenfold increase in growth of mobile data traffic by 2021, and more than 60% of traffic to be offloaded this year via Wi-Fi networks.
Secondly, the number of Wi-Fi hotspots driven by carriers is expected to grow exponentially. This is considered to be a significant step forward for the convergence of cellular and Wi-Fi. Currently there are close to 100 million hotspots globally, and it is expected to reach more than 500 million by 2021. Given the prevalence of Wi-Fi infrastructure in the majority of highly frequented spaces, such as arenas, malls, and airports, Wi-Fi will be leveraged for neutral host deployments in highly frequented spaces. It will come as a win-win solution for all involved parties, host providers, mobile operators, and venue owners as they can all take advantage of the cost savings and the efficiency by sharing the infrastructure. Wi-Fi also enables a lot of value-added services such as proximity marketing, indoor positioning, advertising, and analytics.
Network Functions Virtualization is also supposed to have an impact on the Wi-Fi ecosystem. The separation of Wi-Fi software from hardware functions and provisioning from a centralized management plane will lead to many advantages, such as service agility, enabling quick commissioning and decommissioning of new services.
Another key point mentioned by Fon says that Wi-Fi will be essential for future IoT connectivity. According to the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), last year, more than 85% of companies increased the priority level of IoT on their roadmap. The new Wi-Fi revolution will also be defined by home Wi-Fi, the basic battleground for the Connected Home. Many consumers presently are dissatisfied with the quality of their Wi-Fi connection at home and ISPs are compelled to address the issues effectively or new players will win in field.
Finally, the Wi-Fi disruption by Over-The-Top Content (OTT) players has also just begun. Giants like Google, Amazon, and Facebook, are now entering the Wi-Fi space through varying approaches and intend to improve overall usability, use it to bring internet to the next billion people, and offer solutions with a customer centric and data analytics-driven approach.
With these trends in mind, Fon states that it has evolved its cutting-edge Wi-Fi Service Management Solution, providing Communications Service Providers (CSPs) with the necessary end-to-end functionality needed to deploy and manage Wi-Fi services and unlock new business potential. Their carrier-grade solution enables CSPs to deliver Wi-Fi services that are managed just like cellular and fixed services, helping to differentiate and achieve business goals through multiple use cases, such as Wi-Fi Offload, Wi-Fi Calling, Wi-Fi Monetization, and Wi-Fi as a Service, with advanced guest functionalities.
On the other hand, Fon's Enhanced Connectivity Solution allows CSPs to offer an always-best-connected experience for their users by connecting them automatically to the best network available. The solution collects valuable data, which gives operators complete visibility of network performance from the perspective of the end-consumer. Click here to learn more.
