TelecomTV TelecomTV
  • News
  • Videos
  • Channels
  • Events
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • Open RAN
  • Cloud Native Telco
  • Telcos and Public Cloud
  • The Green Network
  • Private Networks
  • Open Telco Infra
  • 5G Evolution
  • Access Evolution
  • Edgenomics
  • Network Automation
  • 6G Research and Innovation
  • Security
  • More Topics
  • Network Partners
  • Industry Insights
  • Directory
  • Newsletters
  • |
  • About
  • Contact
  • |
  • Connect with us
  • Digital Platforms and Services
  • Open RAN
  • Cloud Native Telco
  • Telcos and Public Cloud
  • The Green Network
  • Private Networks
  • Open Telco Infra
  • 5G Evolution
  • Access Evolution
  • Edgenomics
  • Network Automation
  • 6G Research & Innovation
  • Security
  • Connect with TelecomTV
  • About
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Sign In Register Subscribe
    • Subscribe
    • Sign In
    • Register
  • Search

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi

Covid-19 pandemic impact: 80% surge in Wi-Fi upload traffic reaffirms need for Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, and Wi-Fi mesh adoption

Via ABI Research Media Releases

Apr 22, 2020

Oyster Bay, New York - 22 Apr 2020 - COVID-19 has had an immediate impact on Wi-Fi infrastructure, proving existing infrastructure is inadequate. Wireless networks are now facing a higher capacity with more traffic and users are finding their existing home Wi-Fi network, and the wider broadband infrastructure, is inadequate or incapable of supporting the recent 80% increase in upload traffic, states global tech market advisory firm, ABI Research.

“The outbreak of COVID-19 is creating a need for flexibility that will fuel the future of connectivity,” says Andrew Zignani, Principal Analyst at ABI Research. Many users are still likely to be using outdated Wi-Fi equipment with legacy Wi-Fi standards, such as 802.11n, rather than the latest Wi-Fi 6, which has specifically been designed to deal with better provision in more crowded networks. “There will be renewed incentive for mesh Wi-Fi that can provide sufficient high-speed coverage to multiple users throughout the home,” Zignani explains. At the same time, companies will need to ensure they have the right infrastructure in place so large numbers of employees can concurrently connect to company Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). Many companies may not have VPNs at all, while capacity limitations could put companies at further risk of security breaches or slow down productivity further.

“The hope, of course, is that the impact of COVID-19 will be very short lived, and that people will be able to return to work, school, and normality as swiftly as possible. In the longer term, today’s necessities could lead to an increased desire and testbed for flexible and remote working and learning in the future, while companies may shift marketing and business resources away from conference-centric approaches toward new online and virtual marketing tools, particularly as additional concerns grow over the impact of climate change via international travel,” says Zignani.

“In the longer term, it could lead to a reassessment of how many modern workplaces and working relationships are structured, reducing the impact of long commutes and travel, enabling more flexible working and remote collaboration. In order to achieve this, additional resources will need to be devoted to VPNs, secure home networking, and remote working/conferencing software,” Zignani recommends. “Alongside this, further investment will need to be made to ensure home broadband infrastructure can support high-speed Wi-Fi Internet access.” Education will need to be provided on how to optimize and get the best out of home Wi-Fi networks. Employees will need to be equipped with equipment that can support robust, efficient, and low latency Wi-Fi standards, while various organizations around the globe will need to open up additional spectrum, such as 6 Gigahertz (GHz) to ensure the capacity of Wi-Fi networks can meet a global increase in demand for video, collaborative tools, and other data-heavy traffic going forward.

However, all these longer-term transformations require a deep understanding of the need for high-speed, highly secure wireless infrastructure to and within the home. “This could lead to greater incentives being placed on rolling out high-speed fiber or last-mile networks, better awareness of the need for robust whole-home connectivity via mesh systems, and the adoption of 6 GHz Wi-Fi and the latest Wi-Fi standards. In addition, it could lead to greater home Wi-Fi security, improved cybersecurity education, and a better understanding of the need for additional Wi-Fi capacity in the years to come,” Zignani concludes.

 

Related Topics
  • ABI Research,
  • Announcement,
  • Coronavirus,
  • Global,
  • Telecoms Vendors & OEMs,
  • Tracker,
  • Wi-Fi

More Like This

Access Evolution

What’s up with… Radisys, Airspan, Veon, BAI Communications

Mar 9, 2023

Access Evolution

BAI Communications transforms into Boldyn Networks powerhouse brand, outlines growth ambitions

Mar 9, 2023

Spotlight on 5G

BAI’s CEO unveils new group brand and eyes expansion

Mar 9, 2023

Access Evolution

Worldwide Enterprise WLAN Growth Momentum Continues, Increasing 48% Year Over Year in 4Q22 and 31% for 2022, According to IDC Tracker

Mar 9, 2023

Access Evolution

What’s up with… Telecom Italia, Ciena, quantum research

Mar 6, 2023

This content extract was originally sourced from an external website (ABI Research Media Releases) and is the copyright of the external website owner. TelecomTV is not responsible for the content of external websites. Legal Notices

Email Newsletters

Stay up to date with the latest industry developments: sign up to receive TelecomTV's top news and videos plus exclusive subscriber-only content direct to your inbox – including our daily news briefing and weekly wrap.

Subscribe

Top Picks

Highlights of our content from across TelecomTV today

10:43

MWC23 interview: Mari-Noëlle Jégo-Laveissière, deputy CEO of Orange

12:45

MWC23 interview: Abdu Mudesir, Group CTO, Deutsche Telekom

9:26

MWC23 interview: Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer, BT

TelecomTV
Company
  • About Us
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
Our Brands
  • DSP Leaders World Forum
  • Great Telco Debate
  • TelecomTV Events
Get In Touch
[email protected]
+44 (0) 207 448 1070
Connect With Us

  • Privacy
  • Cookies
  • Terms of Use
  • Legal Notices
  • Help

TelecomTV is produced by the team at Decisive Media.

© Decisive Media Limited 2023. All rights reserved. All brands and products are the trademarks of their respective holder(s).