What does the future of connectivity look like in the U.S. and across the globe? On Tuesday, February 9, the FierceWireless Fierce Wi-Fi Summit kicked off with its initial session titled “What’s Next for Wi-Fi? From Wi-Fi 6, to 6E, to Beyond” and tried to answer that question.
The event was split into two distinct segments: a keynote address from Amazon’s Raghuram Rangarajam, followed by a panel discussion featuring experts from Intel, Boingo and the Wi-Fi Alliance. The hour-long session was an exciting showcase of how Wi-Fi 6 and 6E technology is changing our daily lives and what we have to look forward to with the advancement of the wireless technology.
In his keynote address, Amazon’s Engineering Leader Raghuram Rangarajan provided a background on what exactly Wi-Fi 6 and 6E are and spoke about the recent regulatory developments with the 6 GHz band that has allowed the technology to thrive. He explained how seven new, clean 160 MHz channels present new opportunities and how Wi-Fi 6 and 6E represent a “liberation” for consumers, helping to create much richer experiences in both the home and the enterprise.
The panel following Mr. Rangarajan’s was moderated by Chris Depuy of the 650 Group and consisted of Intel’s Dr. Carlos Cordeiro, Boingo’s Derek Peterson and the Wi-Fi Alliance’s Kevin Robinson.
The panelists mainly discussed what kind of advancements have been made both in the United States and abroad with regards to Wi-Fi 6/6E and also focused on “what’s next” with future technologies like Wi-Fi 7. Kevin Robinson with the Wi-Fi Alliance specifically called out the FCC actions on 5.9 and 6 GHz and pointed to Chile, South Korea, the U.K. and the UAE as evidence that 6 GHz is truly the future of connectivity across the globe.
Dr. Carlos Cordeiro echoed Mr. Robinson’s points about the impact of 6 GHz specifically in his home country of Brazil, citing a study that showed how unlicensed access to the band is expected to add $163.5 billion to the Brazilian economy. Dr. Cordeiro also spoke of regulatory activity in lesser talked about countries like Jordan and Honduras and said that was a sign of the true global momentum on 6 GHz.
Wider channels of spectrum are vital to Boingo’s business and to industry upgrades overall, said Derek Peterson, Boingo’s CTO. He said that 6 GHz has greatly assisted their work with commercial venues and noted that he sees a need to “continue to push the envelope” with better connectivity via Wi-Fi 6, 6E and, ultimately, Wi-Fi 7.
The panelists ended with a brief discussion on the prospect of Wi-Fi 7 and when that technology will be in full swing. WFA’s Kevin Robinson, it depends on when the industry meets “critical mass.” Until that time, regulatory and industry momentum will continue to push for greater access to Wi-Fi 6E.