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RAN Convergence
The WBA & NGMN Joint Task Force: RAN Convergence White Paper explores the importance of existing and future Wi-Fi and cellular convergence, highlighting techniques that enable convergence and identifying solutions to bridge technology gaps – critically this is a major step towards realizing the full benefits of the 5G vision enabled by Wi-Fi.
The paper outlines how mobile operators will benefit from the convergence of Wi-Fi and 5G by gaining improved visibility into Wi-Fi networks, affording them the ability to control customer experience, deliver better services to customers and provide enterprise Wi-Fi network management solutions to enterprise customers. Wi-Fi operators, meanwhile, will benefit from convergence by gaining improved visibility and transition management as they operate overlapping cellular and Wi-Fi networks, ultimately resulting in an improved user experience. Additionally, enterprise Wi-Fi networks will gain the ability to access operator-provided 5G services.
Previously WBA has outlined the new business opportunities created through the convergence of Wi-Fi and 5G – this paper outlines the ‘how’ at the network and RAN layers, we can enable these opportunities including enterprise use cases, manufacturing, public hotspots and residential applications. We outline how a new set of 5G use cases and verticals will require combined resources from both cellular and Wi-Fi networks. This will provide cost-effective solutions that meet diverse sets of requirements on throughput, latency, connection density, coverage, availability and reliability. This is especially important for smartphones that carry a significant amount of data traffic by accessing Wi-Fi. Convergence of Wi-Fi and 5G will lead to better user experience for smartphone customers and create new business opportunities for both Wi-Fi and mobile operators. As Wi-Fi 6 deployments start to mature, then convergence benefits are manifold and to benefits from the maximum ROI operators will need to address a number of challenges that exist when integrating Wi-Fi and cellular networks in enterprise, residential and public Wi-Fi deployments. In particular, the paper explores the benefits of creating a standardized interface between Wi-Fi and cellular networks to improve end-to-end network performance, elevate user experience and, ultimately, empower both mobile and Wi-Fi operators to create new business opportunities utilizing the converged technologies.
Understanding The Global Implications Of Wi-Fi 6 & 6GHz
WBA’s latest white paper explores the implications of opening the 6GHz band to Wi-Fi by first clarifying what Wi-Fi 6 is and then by detailing how Wi-Fi will make use of this added spectrum. It explores the benefits and challenges of doing so, and it strives to address concerns raised by providers of public utilities, public safety and wireless backhaul, all of whom currently use the 6GHz band for vital microwave communications.
Wi-Fi 6 Deployment Guidelines & Scenarios
Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Decoded
The white-paper, ‘Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Decoded’ whitepaper, highlights how the capabilities of the latest generation of Wi-Fi, Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) are set to reshape the industry by enabling a whole new set of economically advantageous use cases to benefit operators, enterprise and end users. The paper will give you some insights about the advantages of using Wi-Fi 6 to deliver the “5G use cases” not yet offered by 5G, as well as seamless support to existing networks and devices through its backwards compatibility.
Download this handy infographic to get the key takeaway points or download the full white paper below.
Network Slicing – Understanding Wi-Fi Capabilities
In this article, the WBA explains how Carrier Wi-Fi operators can embrace the slicing concepts being defined by 3GPP and leverage already existing capabilities to deliver sliced Wi-Fi networks today. It also demonstrates how the key network slicing requirements associated with the access network can be addressed using commercial Wi-Fi capabilities.
