5G, Wi-Fi 6 : Developments In Wireless Technology To Open New Doors

Due to the increasing use of smart technology, the internet of things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI), we cannot imagine life without wireless technology. In a few years, emerging technologies including robots, drones, and self-driving cars would become a norm and wireless connectivity technology is instrumental for it.

As per the latest analysis, the global wireless connectivity technology market is expected to reach $128.47 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 12.6% from 2019 to 2026. The world is on the verge to experience the potential of fifth-generation (5G) wireless for the first time. The increased speed and decreased latency promised by 5G wireless are expected to open new opportunities for the healthcare and information technology sectors. What’s more, wireless technologies would be the next big thing for live streaming, long-range connectivity in agriculture and smart cities, and continuous sharing of data in homes and offices.  

Recently, McAllen launched citywide high-speed wireless internet access by joining forces with two major corporations and CARES Act funding. On the other hand, several smartphone companies are now offering 5G technology with the launch of their new devices. Apart from this, not only on Earth, companies have declared to offer cellular connection on the moon.

Recently, Nokia, the global leader in 5G technology, was selected by NASA to build the first-ever cellular network on the moon to improve lunar communications by delivering reliable data rates while maintaining cost, size, and power. This development of cellular connection on the moon would be a pioneer in establishing a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.

Such market developments are just a glimpse of what the future holds for wireless communications. Let’s take a closer look at the upcoming trends in wireless connectivity technology this year and beyond.

Upcoming trends in wireless connectivity:

Advancements in location-tracking technologies

Tech giants have been obsessed with improving location-tracking technologies. For years, companies have relied upon global positioning systems (GPS) technologies to locate and track devices. However, GPS is hardly useful for indoor location tracking. Thus, development in RFID and Bluetooth Beacons gained importance. In the future, smartphone manufacturers would improve ultra-wideband (UWB) radio technology installed in their phones and enable customers to use their phones to locate an unprecedented level of precision. Moreover, UWB technology could be used for assessing management in warehouses, which was difficult using traditional GPS technology.

Next-gen Wi-Fi

The tech world is thrilled with the introduction of Wi-Fi 6 a.k.a. IEEE 802.11ax, a next-generation wireless standard that offers greater flexibility, efficiency, and scalability for next-generation applications. Wi-Fi 6 technology is expected to provide the versatility of high-speed Gigabit Ethernet wireless along with the reliability of licensed radio. The advent of Wi-Fi 6 would increase the number of devices connected to a Wi-Fi network while maintaining minimum latency and increasing battery life. Soon, Wi-Fi 6 would be an integral part of IoT devices.

Vehicle-to-everything wireless

Both autonomous cars and conventional vehicles are bound to demand communication with each other and road infrastructure. This is offered by the vehicle-to-everything (V2X) system. V2X offers several other services such as infotainment, navigation support, and safety capabilities, which have gained importance over the last few years. Soon, V2X would become mandatory for all new automotive. Although the existing V2X technology uses cellular networks, in the future, it will demand a 5G network to leverage its full potential.

The technological advancement in wireless connectivity, especially in 5G and Wi-Fi 6 is expected to open lucrative opportunities. Furthermore, IoT and the internet of medical things (IIoT) have gained traction and offered important connectivity benefits for both patients and healthcare professionals. Such advancements are utterly dependent on improvements in wireless connectivity technology. Thus, understanding wireless infrastructure is essential in the short term and in the future.