Wi-Fi solidified its status as a necessity during the pandemic, particularly when it came to online learning and keeping a job when almost everyone was working from home. But while Wi-Fi usage increased by 80% during the pandemic, 47% of the world’s population doesn’t actually have internet access. And the divide between developed and developing nations is stark. Data from 2019 showed that in the developed world, 87% are connected, contrasting the 47% in developing countries and just 19% in the least developed countries.

Photo by: Taylor Vick

Wi-Fi has and will continue to be crucial in connecting communities and countries. But it also has massive potential to provide economic benefits to the developing world in the same way it has been a great success story in the U.S. and other countries. A report released by Wi-Fi Alliance estimates that by 2025, Wi-Fi’s global economic value will reach $5 trillion. But, beyond the economic value Wi-Fi provides, recent research has also provided evidence that Wi-Fi “is a critical contributor to mitigating the disruptive social and economic impact of global events, such as pandemics.” 

Internet access allows people to not only keep their work from home jobs, but it also helps improve job opportunities. One study conducted before the pandemic found that gaining access to broadband was associated with a 1.8% increase in the employment rate. And it’s not just about the opportunities; people also make more money when they have access to the internet, as this study found a significant positive association between internet use and earnings growth.

And yes, while Wi-Fi has undeniable economic benefits, its social benefits are also important and much more difficult to quantify. For example, the pandemic showed us just how crucial Wi-Fi has been for people’s mental health, keeping us connected to loved ones around the world when it wasn’t safe to do so in person.

And, as valuable as Wi-Fi is at the moment, its tangible and intangible benefits will only continue to grow as new technologies and innovations become available. Access to the 6 GHz band and Wi-Fi 6E technologies will only increase Wi-Fi’s value in the future. Globally, countries are beginning to realize the socioeconomic value of Wi-Fi, and many have opened the 6 GHz band or are considering it. The newest Wi-Fi innovations, driven by utilizing new bands of spectrum, will provide numerous benefits for users around the world.