With 16% of network operators in Asia Pacific anticipating private networks to generate over 20% of enterprise revenues by 2025, advanced connectivity could become the unsung hero of the region’s digital evolution, and the foundation that will propel the deployment of data- and networking-dependent technologies like edge-cloud services, Industrial IoT, and AI applications.
We are already seeing examples of such future possibilities coming to life, with Singapore recently announcing renewed commitments of more than $4 billion for its Enterprise Innovation Scheme (EIS) to boost the adoption of emerging, hyperconnected solutions such as augmented reality, virtual reality and Industry 4.0.
Such momentum for Singapore not only sets reference examples for the rest of Asia Pacific's economies, including Southeast Asia, to learn from; the expected surge in demand for the technologies will also necessitate the scaling up of current network infrastructure. Being able to deliver on the convergence of Wi-Fi and cellular networks and having the right allocation of spectrum bandwidth, could be essential to unlock the next wave of enterprise transformation.
Today’s state of connectivity
Modern large-scale enterprise environments rely on a mix of Wi-Fi and indoor/outdoor small-cell or distributed antenna systems (DAS) for cellular connectivity.
Wi-Fi is well-suited to most connectivity needs, as it is an economical and efficient way to connect users, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and other infrastructure; while cellular networks offer superior mobility over large distances and high speeds, automatic sim card authentication and security, and lower latency, particularly with 5G.
Generally, enterprises that employ both networks see about 80 to 90 per cent of traffic moving over Wi-Fi and the remainder over cellular, reinforcing Wi-Fi as the workhorse of connectivity, and cellular for critical applications.
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Both Wi-Fi and cellular technologies have recently gained immense new bandwidth through the addition of unlicensed shared spectrum. In Wi-Fi’s case, it is the 6GHz band accessible to Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7, which basically quadruples throughput. The future is hence not a choice of choosing one network technology over the other, but a convergence of the two that is greater than the sum of its parts.
International professional associations like the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) are constantly refining standards to make Wi-Fi 7 approach similar latency and reliability as that found in cellular networks. Other industry bodies like Wi-Fi Alliance are also looking to address the issues of public roaming Wi-Fi, such as troublesome per-network authentication. Such efforts have resulted in the development of Hot Spot 2.0, or Wi-Fi Certified Passpoint, which eliminates manual device authentication on participating Wi-Fi networks.
These evolving standards are enabling new private LTE/5G architectures to employ all-digital fronthaul over shared IT infrastructure to power virtualized single-cell coverage of larger areas and mixed indoor/outdoor environments, while reducing cross-sector interference and greatly improving both performance and energy efficiency.
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Cross-pollination of such networking technologies will be key for specific industries that benefit from being able to shift seamlessly between networks as needed. For example, hospital and clinical settings rely on connected devices, telemetry and equipment sensors over Wi-Fi connectivity, yet also deliver emerging services, like remote robotic surgeries and holomedicine, that demand the low latency of 5G networks. There are also industrial robots in warehouses that rely on super-fast, low-latency 5G connectivity to operate safely and precisely both indoors and outdoors alongside a human workforce and automated inventory systems that are supported by Wi-Fi.
A growing threat: IoT device security
Another important consideration is the proliferation of new connected devices in smart building applications. The regional IoT market is projected to reach US$436 billion by 2026, driven by rapid Internet penetration, the surge in smart application adoption, and an increase in smart city initiatives. While a boon to efficiency and cost control, IoT devices have also become an increasingly popular entry point for cyber threats looking for network access.
Connected devices hence require special attention to keep them secure. The silicon within these devices is able to work with security credentials from certificate providers to ensure that every connection is legitimate, but getting these two sides to mesh—the silicon’s toolbox and the certificate provider’s credentials—is an accountability gap that falls to enterprise IT staff.
A converged private network can be used as the foundation for a software-based credentials management system that can protect all IoT devices—whether connected by Wi-Fi or cellular networks—and continuously evolve to address new, emerging threats.
Convergence on the horizon
As capabilities of both cellular and Wi-Fi technologies approach parity in 2023 and beyond, a convergence of networks is on the horizon. This convergence will create a unified platform that seamlessly shifts between technologies as needed, and already we have seen early examples such as the smart megaports or augmented reality tours which demonstrated the potential of both technologies collaboratively drive innovation, enhance connectivity, and deliver superior user experiences.
In the coming months, we expect to see companies across sectors and geographies take advantage of advanced connectivity to configure and operate tomorrow’s enterprise networks, especially when supported by friendlier regulations and increased adoption of compatible devices and private networks in enterprises. Ultimately, these two technologies are not competing but rather will drive the emergence of something incredible from their convergence.
Kho Teck Meng is the regional sales director for ASEAN at RUCKUS Networks of CommScope
