This is an excerpt from our white paper Wi-Fi in the 5G Era – Strategy Guide for Operators. The full white paper is available here if you like what you read. Don’t hesitate to contact ENEA if you have any questions.

Business and technical consolidation trends all point in the same direction: Mobile and fixed networks are coming together – for the benefit of everyone in the industry and consumers.

5G introduces new network architectural concepts for Wi-Fi integration with the mobile core (non-3GPP access). In this post, we first explore the opportunities for mobile operators today and then the basic concepts of trusted and untrusted Wi-Fi access.  In our next blog post about Wi-Fi and Cellular convergence, we will dive into what is new within 5G, introduced in 3GPP releases 15 and 16. After that blog post, we will cover the new Access Traffic Steering, Switching & Splitting (ATSSS) function, the ‘Holy Grail’ of mobile data offloading. Spoiler alert; ATSSS complexity and reliance on device support mean it will likely take years to come to market.

WI-FI AND CELLULAR CONVERGENCE – OPPORTUNITIES TODAY

While Wi-Fi and cellular are on a gradual path to technical convergence, there can be no question that corporate fixed-cellular convergence, aka consolidation, has already been happening for a long time. Some years ago, dominant mobile operators trended towards acquiring cable and fiber operations. More recently, fixed service providers and cablecos have either acquired mobile operators or have become MVNOs themselves.

All of this is seeding the ground for technology and services convergence in addition to the more apparent corporate consolidation.

But, as already discussed in one of our blog posts, if genuine technical Wi-Fi and mobile (5G) convergence are to happen, service providers also need to break free from conventional organizational ‘silos’ and compartmentalized thinking on what technologies do and do not belong to mobile and fixed wireless services, respectively.

We believe there is significant untapped business potential in breaking such operator ‘silos’ to achieve progress in service and technological convergence.

Some of these opportunities do not need significant infrastructure investments, nor do operators need to wait for new convergence (3GPP) standards or equipment to emerge.

Selective Wi-Fi Offload is the answer

Mobile network traffic data may indicate overcapacity. But that is often only true as a high-level average. There will always be some cell sites suffering from congestion and some only serving a handful of subscribers. Selective Wi-Fi offload is the answer: Build Wi-Fi capacity where it is needed most to make users happy (Churn zone) and always for indoor coverage.

If regulations allow it, mobile operators may even take the bold step to replace cellular with Wi-Fi at some locations (CAPEX overload zone).

Here is our suggested list of reasonably simple network changes that would create a ‘Wi-Fi offload’ service and hence a quick new source of revenue for operators:

• Create an additional SSID (network name) supporting the 802.1x protocol on all of your existing Wi-Fi footprint.
• Enable SIM-based Wi-Fi services authentication (using the EAP-SIM/AKA protocol).
• Introduce selective offloading of mobile traffic to Wi-Fi at various locations.

By introducing the correct configurations and by provisioning devices correctly, such a scheme would create an additional layer of mobile network capacity using Wi-Fi. But this would also require that mobile and fixed parts of the operator organization collaborate.

Let’s now look into how to integrate Wi-Fi with the mobile core. The 3GPP standard offers two main strategies to integrate Wi-Fi networks with the mobile core: Trusted and untrusted non-3GPP (Wi-Fi) access.

UNTRUSTED NON-3GPP (WI-FI) ACCESS

Untrusted non-3GPP (Wi-Fi) access was first introduced in the Wi-Fi specification in 3GPP Release 6 (2005). At that time, Wi-Fi access points featuring advanced security features were rare. Hence Wi-Fi was considered open and unsecured by default. Untrusted access includes any Wi-Fi access that the operator has no control over, such as public hotspots, subscribers’ home Wi-Fi, and corporate Wi-Fi. It also consists of Wi-Fi that does not provide sufficient security mechanisms such as authentication and radio link encryption.

The fact that untrusted non-3GPP access works over any Wi-Fi network is the reason that it is the method of choice for Wi-Fi Calling.

The untrusted model requires no changes to the Wi-Fi network but impacts the device side because it needs an IPsec client to reside on the device. The device is connected through a secure IPsec tunnel directly to an IPsec Terminating Gateway in the Mobile Core, which is connected through an encrypted tunnel to the Packet Gateway. The Packet Gateway is used for both cellular and Wi-Fi traffic.

This integration on the core network side also means that Wi-Fi service management platforms, such as the Aptilo Service Management Platform™ (SMP), must interface with mobile core network HLR/HSS/AMF for SIM Authentication (EAP-SIM/AKA/AKA’ or 5G-AKA). This provides the same level of authentication security as in the cellular network. It may also be required to interface with mobile core network policy functions. In addition to authentication of the device, the SIM authentication process produces cryptographic keys used for IPsec tunnel establishment.

TRUSTED NON-3GPP (WI-FI) ACCESS

Trusted non-3GPP (Wi-Fi) access was first introduced with the LTE standard in 3GPP Release 8 (2008). Trusted access is often assumed to be operator-built Wi-Fi access with encryption (enabled by 802.1x) in the Wi-Fi radio access network (RAN) and a secure authentication method (EAP). However, it is always up to the home operator to decide what is considered trusted.

In the case of trusted access, the device (UE) is connected through a Wireless Access Gateway in the Wi-Fi core. This Wireless Access Gateway is connected through a secure tunnel directly with the Packet Gateway, also used for cellular traffic in the Mobile Core.

SIM Authentication is also essential for trusted non-3GPP access. In addition to authentication of the device, it produces cryptographic keys used for encryption in the secure Wi-Fi network (802.1x).

Calix continues to drive innovation and broadband service provider success by integrating Calix Support Cloud with more than 100 third-party residential gateways, opening the full range of award-winning support and testing services with no need for new or additional hardware

SAN JOSE, CA—April 21, 2022—Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) announced today that it continues to deliver on its commitment to open industry standards for broadband service providers (BSPs). The award-winning Calix Support Cloud (Support Cloud)—which helps BSPs of any size reduce truck rolls by as much as 46 percent and increase first-call resolutions by as much as 74 percent—now fully integrates with more than 100 third-party gateways. A growing number of BSPs are leveraging Support Cloud to transform their call centers, because even those with legacy equipment in subscriber homes can enjoy the full benefits of the solution. Calix has long supported open industry standards that provide BSPs with the flexibility to innovate at their own pace. By combining the flexibility and speed of open source with the efficiencies of interoperability and open standards, Calix opens a world of opportunity for BSPs to simplify their operations, excite their subscribers, and grow their revenue.

Calix supports BSP business transformations by:

• Accelerating its dedication to real industry standards, both old and new. Calix tests to Interop TR-069, TR-098, TR-181, and TR-143 standards. Although TR-069 and TR-143 were not designed for today’s rigorous FCC performance testing, Calix is able to conduct successful tests to these standards. In addition, Calix supports TR-369 and is working toward certification. Calix is also working to incorporate the next wave of industry-leading standards such as Wi-Fi Alliance’s Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Data Elements™. Calix collaborates with both silicon vendors and software developers in the creation and benchmarking of multiple broadband industry standards.Finally, Calix also works closely with its customers to streamline and optimize the integration of non-Calix gateways with in-house testing and certification.
• Providing full Support Cloud troubleshooting with gateway data—regardless of vendor. Support Cloud constantly monitors gateway data from the subscriber’s home or business to provide customer support teams with predictive analytics and real-time insights. This unique visibility into the subscriber experience enables customer support teams to diagnose, resolve, and troubleshoot issues remotely—often before subscribers know there is a problem. BSPs working to dramatically reduce truck rolls and associated OPEX can do it without adding CAPEX related to new gateway purchases.
• Conducting 20+ million FCC performance tests with no need for new hardware. Calix delivers the most scalable integrated FCC broadband performance testing solution in the industry. In a single month, Calix performed more than one million performance speed tests and 20 million latency tests. Calix industry-leading performance testing helps BSPs successfully complete the testing necessary to receive federal funding that fuels network expansion, subscriber satisfaction, and revenue growth. Just as important, testing can be done with existing gateways that are integrated with Support Cloud. No new hardware is required.

“We first became a Calix Support Cloud customer to help us perform critical FCC performance testing, but Support Cloud integration with our gateways has created tremendous value for us,” said Cody Mitchell, TAC Supervisor for Blackfoot Telephone Cooperative, serving western Montana and eastern Idaho. “We have seven different gateways that communicate at least some information to the Support Cloud. Calix gives us the flexibility to conduct performance testing no matter what device is on the customer’s premises.”

“We have leveraged Calix software platforms essentially from their beginning; influencing their development through early adopter programs,” said Jason Jenkins, Network Manager at Silver Star Communications, which also serves Wyoming and Idaho. “Calix software has allowed us to associate both Calix and alternate vendor CPE to provide a near-seamless experience for all service delivery methods. We have also leveraged Support Cloud NetOps to complete our ACAM II preliminary testing quickly, without the need to deploy additional hardware or software.”

“Calix is committed to serving our customers with open-source innovation that eliminates the need for closed, proprietary ecosystems,” said Matt Collins, executive vice president for commercial operations and chief marketing officer. “Each of our customers faces a unique set of challenges at both ends of the subscriber experience. Calix Cloud helps even the smallest BSP successfully address those challenges. Furthermore, our active support of open industry standards fosters development of new standards and encourages innovation so BSPs can transform their businesses, own their markets, and grow value for themselves and their communities.”

Discover why Calix believes open industry standards accelerate innovation for all.

About Calix
Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) – Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty, and revenue creates more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission; to enable broadband service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite, and grow.

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based upon management’s current expectations and are inherently uncertain. Forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this release, and we assume no obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking statement to reflect any event or circumstance after the date of this release, except as required by law. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from current expectations based on risks and uncertainties affecting Calix’s business. The reader is cautioned not to rely on the forward-looking statements contained in this press release. Additional information on potential factors that could affect Calix’s results and other risks and uncertainties are detailed in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC and available at www.sec.gov.

Press Inquiries:
John Husson
410-979-1747
[email protected]

Investor Inquiries:
Investor Relations
[email protected]

San Jose, Calif. – April 19, 2022 – NETGEAR®, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTGR), the leading provider of networking products that power businesses both large and small, today announced the latest addition to its managed wireless access point portfolio, the Insight Managed WiFi 6 AX3000 Dual-band Multi-Gig PoE Access Point (WAX615). Developed for small and medium businesses (SMBs), the WAX615 provides the fastest dual-band, WiFi 6, multi-gig performance and coverage with NETGEAR Insight remote cloud management and the NETGEAR unique Instant Mesh capability.

Broadband internet access for businesses has broken the Gigabit per second speed limit.  End-point device WiFi speeds have increased as WiFi technology has evolved from one generation to the next.  Businesses must upgrade their WiFi infrastructure to keep up with customer demand as well as data-driven business operations. The WAX615 provides SMBs and managed service providers with a powerful WiFi solution based on the latest WiFi 6 Release 2 technology, delivering twice the throughput compared to WiFi 6 Release 1, at a price comparable to its immediate predecessor. The WAX615 is backwards compatible with all NETGEAR Insight Managed WiFi 5 and WiFi 6 Access Points, making it an easy, drop-in upgrade to existing Insight networks.

With a top speed of 3Gbps, superior range and easy setup, the WAX615 access point delivers seamless roaming, load balancing and multi-user access for the best WiFi experience in high density environments. The device also includes one-year free Insight subscription for fully centralized, real-time setup, monitoring, and control with no need for extra management hardware. Furthermore, the WAX615 features one 2.5Gbps Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) Ethernet port for faster wired connectivity and easy installation. It’s ideally paired with NETGEAR GSM4210P, MS510TXPP, MS510TXUP and MS108EUP PoE switches.

“The WAX615 is yet another example of NETGEAR’s commitment to innovation and delivering superior WiFi solutions to customers,” said Douglas Cheung, director of product line management for NETGEAR Business Wireless. “The result of our innovation is the WAX615 that delivers higher data throughput, improved network efficiency, and a better user experience, all while maintaining management consistency across generations of products and at an attractive price point.”

Unprecedented Business Class WiFi 6 Security

Small and medium organizations can enjoy enterprise level security without expenditures typically associated with this class of product. NETGEAR Insight makes it simple to configure and maintain network security with features that include:

• WPA3 Enterprise for the highest level of WiFi connection security.
• 8 separate wireless networks (SSIDs) that can be used for admins, employees, guests and myriad of IoT devices (WiFi surveillance cameras, thermostats, door locks and sensors, etc.).
• Individual VLANs for network separation and dedicated swim lanes for various data streams (administrators, employees, visitors, HR, Finance, etc.)

Insight Managed WiFi 6 AP Lineup

Additional Features:

• WiFi 6 Release 2 –100% faster speed than WiFi 6 Release 1 in 5GHz band, enabled by 160MHz channelization
• Instant Mesh – Compatible with all Insight Managed Access Points to form hybrid wired and wireless mesh networks, expanding WiFi coverage to areas that are hard to reach by Ethernet cables
• Concurrent Usage — Handles 4x more client devices per unit (when all devices support WiFi 6) compared to WiFi 5
• Superior Performance — Dual-band with each unit capable of delivering 3.0 Gbps of data throughput
• Seamless Roaming and Load Balancing — unrivalled user experience throughout the business, ideal for high density environments
• Support for Latest Devices –Works with the latest iOS and Android mobile devices such as iPhone 13, Samsung Galaxy S10, Samsung Galaxy Note 10 and all notebook computers, wireless and wired
• Backwards Compatible – Supports WiFi 4 (IEEE 802.11n), WiFi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac) and WiFi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax) standards
• Easy Deployment –One 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port with high-power Power-over-Ethernet (PoE+) port (PoE+ switch & access point power adapter are sold separately)

Availability

NETGEAR® Insight Managed WiFi 6 AX3000 Dual-band Multi-Gig PoE Access Point (WAX615) is available this month on NETGEAR.com.

• WAX615-100NAS: US$189.99
• WAX615PA-100NAS: US$209.99 (includes power adapter)

About NETGEAR, Inc.

NETGEAR® (NASDAQ: NTGR) has pioneered advanced networking technologies for homes, businesses, and service providers around the world since 1996 and leads the industry with a broad range of award-winning products designed to simplify and improve people’s lives. By enabling people to collaborate and connect to a world of information and entertainment, NETGEAR is dedicated to delivering innovative and advanced connected solutions ranging from mobile and cloud-based services for enhanced control and security, to smart networking products, video over Ethernet for Pro AV applications, easy-to-use WiFi solutions and performance gaming routers to enhance online game play. The company is headquartered out of San Jose, Calif. with offices located around the globe. More information is available from theNETGEAR Investor Pageor by calling (408) 907-8000. Connect with NETGEAR:Twitter,Facebook,Instagramand theNETGEAR blogatNETGEAR.com.

Source: NETGEAR-G

U.S. Media Contact:

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U.S. Sales Inquiries:(408) 907-8000, [email protected]

Overview
The digital economy has transmuted how businesses are structured, how firms interact, and how consumers obtain services and information.

An efficient digital-based economy requires the deployment of technology infrastructure that is ubiquitous, high-speed, secure, and flexible for developing a digital supply chain, which can be used by businesses to transform the way they operate.

The pandemic has forced the world to adapt and change. The emergence of a flexible hybrid model of connectivity, which is pandemic-induced, has necessitated enterprises to rethink their go-to-market strategies, workforce management practices, and digital business processes.

Hyper-converged wireless connectivity ties together businesses with technology to bring aggressive economics into play.

Challenges
A report by United Nations suggests that nearly 3 billion people – or 37% of the world’s population – have never used the Internet, despite the pandemic driving people online. The unconnected economy is a huge missed opportunity for enterprises to become future-proof by providing their consumers with access to the best products, services, and experiences. Telecom operators to blur this digital divide delve into new ways to manage costs and provide Internet for all, but the demand remains unfulfilled due to commercialization, competition, and license fee pressure.

Solution
TIP- building a roadmap for industry transformation. The disaggregated network is becoming a reality for enterprises, allowing them to build larger, more robust networks and offer innovative services to their customers. Telecom Infra Project (TIP) has established an Open Platform to build cost-efficient and flexible networks that can be tailored to specific business needs and preferences, intending to bring ubiquitous connectivity to all. TIP’s Open Platform brings telecom operators, system integrators, and other stakeholders together to build a flexible, high-speed, and lower-cost network that can connect all areas of a city or region.

 

OpenWiFi is an initiative designed to assemble a “fully disaggregated Wi-Fi system,” including a cloud controller SDK and Enterprise-grade Access Points, designed and validated to work seamlessly together. The validation and certification infrastructure ensures all components and Access Points are robust to interoperate seamlessly. Some of its salient features include community-driven development, interoperable multiple vendors, no vendor lock-in, and reduced TCO.

Its tech stack comprises advanced enterprise and Carrier-grade features, including open APIs, open-source core, choice of controllers, interoperable open interface, and choice of HW – multiple vendors / models, and standard air interface.

It enables connectivity providers, such as SPs, MSPs, MNOs, MSOs, businesses to connect with wireless Internet, hotspot, roaming/offload, etc. It is developed by the OEMs using the OpenWiFi stack to add value for WLANaaS, security, UX, etc.

The open-source community supports cloud-native controller software and manages & controls distributed Wi-Fi deployment. It has feature-rich integrated AP firmware, a production-ready image, and a single code base for all Whitebox platforms (Wi-Fi 5, 6 & 6E, indoor & outdoor)

IO by HFCL- building a holistic networking ecosystem with TIP
As one of the early adopters and partners of the TIP Open Wi-Fi ecosystem and tech stack, IO has brought a series of TIP-ready devices to achieve mass-market penetration of OpenWiFi to empower the connectivity ecosystem to grow and mature.

With extensive years of experience in designing and deploying access solutions worldwide, IO, in alliance with TIP, is actively deploying OpenWiFi based networks in Asia and Africa to
develop cost-effective open-source powered Access Points and wireless controllers.

“The vision of TIP OpenWIFi to connect everyone and everything and everywhere echoes through our goal to deliver high-quality connectivity over the length and breadth of the globe. We are confident that TIP and IO will continue to innovate and drive the next wave of innovation and will converge in the future. It is a platform where people and companies can build, share, and improve the ecosystem together.”

–Bhuvnesh Sachdeva, VP- IO product, HFCL Ltd.

Takeaway
OpenWiFi disaggregation unlocks untapped value for enterprises and service providers by enabling them to disaggregate their networks, reducing costs and improving operational efficiency. It also provides an opportunity for new players to enter the market and drive socio-economic development, by expanding the wireless footprint. The world is becoming increasingly connected and increasingly digital. IO’s mission is to improve lives by connecting people, information and things, and we do this through our innovative range of access solutions to enable people to interact, learn, work and engage, wherever and however they want, on any digital device. Our solutions are constantly evolving to meet the needs of our customers today and the challenges of the future. We are dedicated to delivering a better tomorrow by building a future-ready network connectivity ecosystem, with the most advanced technology.

Reach us to discover how we can empower your business with seamless connectivity.

Our Website: https://io.hfcl.com

This article is authored by Mr. Anuj Mago, Associate VP, HFCL Ltd

WaveTunnel^TM Technology Delivers an Intelligent, Indoor, Broadband Backhaul Solution for the Enterprise with the Performance of Fiber, but Without Costly and Cumbersome Cabling.

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 6, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Airvine’s WaveTunnel technology has begun to ship to selected enterprise accounts worldwide.  Those deployments have generated great excitement and we are planning on general availability in Q3.  This technology will completely revolutionize enterprise indoor networking by delivering the broadband backhaul speeds required by technologies like Wi-Fi 6/6E, but without any of the limitations of having to pull wire.

Early deployments are with enterprise clients in the multi-dwelling unit (MDU), manufacturing, warehousing, and hospitality sectors.  These clients have a strong need for a high-performance backhaul solution that is quick and easy to install, and can easily accommodate rapid moves, adds, and changes.  The do-it-yourself nature of a WaveTunnel installation is also a compelling feature.

“We are very excited to begin shipments of our ground-breaking WaveTunnel technology.  There has been great enthusiasm on the part of our pilot customers who are eager to get this technology into their production networks.  The pilot phase has been massively oversubscribed.” Vivek Ragavan, CEO, Airvine

“New enterprise wireless deployments of Wi-Fi 6/6E require high-performance backhaul. Yet existing cabling may be insufficient – either poor quality, or in the wrong places. Indoor private 4G and 5G deployments face similar challenges in the future as well. Wireless backhaul solutions such as Airvine’s have the potential to be a disruptor in these scenarios.” Dean Bubley, Director at Disruptive Analysis

“Airvine’s solution is very impressive, and it will be a game-changer.  The days of disrupting the enterprise with technicians stringing wire through drop ceilings and heating ducts is over. The future is about quick and effortless installs of broadband wireless backhaul technology.  This is the latest in an industry trend toward Replace The Wire Technology” Claus Hetting, CEO Wi-Fi NOW Events

Airvine is developing an entirely new class of wireless technology that utilizes unlicensed spectrum in the 60 GHz band (57 to 71 GHz in the U.S.) to backhaul indoor enterprise data traffic.  It’s the perfect fit for enterprise customers that:

1. Can’t tolerate the long disruptions required to pull wire
2. Need fast and effortless moves, adds, and changes
3. Have situations where it’s very difficult to pull wire
4. Are planning additional access networks that require backhaul; Examples here include IT, OT, xR (augmented reality), and private 5G (future)
5. Have an urgent business need for immediate or temporary connectivity
6. Need broadband backhaul to support Wi-Fi 6/6E access networks
7. Lease their facility and want to avoid the large sunk cost of a structured wiring upgrade

The Magic of Airvine technology can be found in the following:

1. Very high-gain beamforming arrays (~30 dBi) that can easily punch through most building materials.
2. Sophisticated software that can manage traffic flows and route around obstructions.
3. Automatic beam steering, which makes installations effortless.
4. Multi-gigabit/sec data transfer rates.
5. No RF expertise is required to install and manage the network.

For more on Airvine technology please visit us at www.airvine.com

About Airvine

Airvine is a fast-growing Silicon Valley innovator of intelligent broadband wireless backhaul solutions for the enterprise. The company has developed the industry’s first indoor 60 GHz wireless system that exceeds the speed and rivals the reliability of structured wiring solutions at a fraction of the deployment time and cost. Patented RF innovations extend the range and gain of wireless signals, penetrating walls and steering around obstacles that impede transmission.

SOURCE Airvine

This is an excerpt from our white paper Wi-Fi in the 5G Era – Strategy Guide for Operators. The full white paper is available here if you like what you read. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.

OFFLOAD TRAFFIC WILL ONLY INCREASE
Rapid evolution and availability of new technology and new spectrum are making carrier Wi-Fi inevitable as a strategic technology of choice for service providers everywhere. The idea that Wi-Fi is the dominant indoor wireless technology is not new. But we believe that Wi-Fi’s dominance will be even more pronounced in the 5G era.

It is well known that device data consumption continues to rise particularly as the result of the increased popular demand for video streaming and – more recently perhaps – the explosive demand for collaborative work applications, such as video conferencing. More than this, research suggests (see figure) that the need for mobile networks to ‘offload’ traffic to Wi-Fi will substantially increase in the 5G era.

In some countries – such as the UK, Japan, and Germany – ‘Wi-Fi offload’ percentages (meaning the percentage of smartphone traffic delivered over Wi-Fi networks of any kind) are already well above 80%. In connection with the US decision to allocate all of the 6 GHz band to Wi-Fi, the FCC cited the need for offload from 5G networks as an important contributing factor in their decision.

Digital learning is the quickest growing market in the education industry, with a whopping 900% growth since 2000. – KPMG

We are going through unprecedented time and Covid-19 Pandemic has directly impacted every sector possible. However, Internet penetration on a global scale has mitigated the catastrophe to a large extent and became an essential tool to communicate for every sector/industry and specifically for education.

The potential of the Internet in the new-age learning models, Hybrid (online + offline) HyFlex (hybrid+ flexible), is giving access to billions of nuggets of information visible online to learners worldwide.

Broadband technologies empower hybrid+ HyFlex learning with a unique teaching experience, knowledge-sharing, pedagogical expertise while transforming the world as the single largest library.

Internet – a road to Connected Learning.

Internet’s value in improving and enhancing the overall learning experience is undisputed, which got further amplified during the pandemic. The growing adoption of online resources bridges education divides, transforms learning, and improves skills for the globalized economy.

Connecting learners with many educational tools, modules, digital libraries, blogs, wikis, podcasts, videos, e-libraries/textbooks, thereby laying a foundation for a more reliable future, is no more far-fetched.

However, the major spin-off here is slow, low, and no connectivity that breaks the rhythm of learning.

Connectivity challenges & way forward with Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6 is designed to empower the new age of learning, enabling educational institutions to provide campus-wide connectivity with high-speed, secure Internet by boosting device density. So learners, irrespective of their location, can access, learn and explore futuristic experiential learning anytime and anywhere.

For a brief rundown, Wi-Fi 6 boosts overall performance with increased throughput speeds, higher security, improved network congestion, better client capacity, and reduced power consumption. 

-OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) lets multiple devices be supported with Access Points at a lower latency, minimizing contention for channel access between Wi-Fi devices.

-With Beam Forming feature, Access Point detects where the device requesting the data is located and transmits a more localized data stream in that direction, instead of broadcasting data in all directions, leading to improved speed and high-performance.

-MU-MIMO (Multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output) enables splitting device data into multiple streams for improved Internet efficiency. Channels are split into even smaller chunks so numerous users can experience simultaneous transmissions.

-1024-QAM (Quadrature Amplitude Modulation) allows more bits to be encoded per symbol transmission over the air using the encoding technology. With this data-encoding density boosted up to 25 percent within the same spectrum, it becomes easier to support more devices simultaneously, even if devices are running throughput-intensive streaming or video apps.

Wi-Fi 6 has ensured that connectivity is no longer a barrier to learning while fostering the education sector to handle the unknown, where learning adapts to each child instead of each child trying to adapt to school. – Anand Kumar, GM-Sales (Govt. Account), HFCL Ltd.

Future dictated by Technology-led learning.

Global E-Learning Market to Reach $457.8 Billion by 2026. – Global News Wire

Connectivity is a driver for inclusive and gender-equal learning, employability and livelihoods. The blended learning model will be a ubiquitous component of the education system worldwide. To narrow digital inequalities, Indian Govt has increased the education budget from Rs 104, 278 crores to Rs 93, 274 crores for 2022-23.

Forward-thinking global institutions like the University of Illinois, Harvard, IIT, IIM, MIT, and so forth are investing extensively in building a resilient mechanism of blended education delivery.

At IO by HFCL, we are equipping, enabling, and advancing digital education globally with our range of access solutions to seize once-in-a-generation learning opportunities to leapfrog children and youth into the future they want and deserve.

Epilogue

The education industry aced the path of ‘disruption to recovery’ amid pandemic with broadband Internet, which acted as a catalyst for the digital revolution. It brought a massive transformation in the learning landscape, technological disruptions while meeting the demand for quality education. 

At IO by HFCL, we believe pandemic brought the world an opportunity to rethink and restructure education systems globally. Broadband technology emerged as a panacea enabling learners to learn from anywhere, anytime, in any rhythm, and with any means.

With trending Wi-Fi trends such as Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and 7, it would be easier to build an education system that is more resilient and responsive to students’ needs. 

Get in touch with IO by HFCL to penetrate new business markets with a robust Internet-connected system to support seamless and affordable connectivity everywhere.

This article is authored by Mr. Anand Kumar, GM-Sales, HFCL Ltd.

This is an excerpt from our white paper Hyperscale Cellular IoT. If you like what you read, the full white paper is available here. Don’t hesitate to contact Enea if you have any questions. Download white paper here.

In the Hyperscale Cellular IoT white paper, we focus entirely on cellular IoT connectivity. Although cellular IoT will only stand for 22% of all connections at the end of 2026, around 5,9 billion devices will be connected through cellular networks!

The vast majority of IoT connections will be short-range devices using radio technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Z-wave, and Zigbee. But, just like most radio technologies for IoT, cellular connectivity will have rapid growth.

Each technology has its own use case. Cellular is the technology of choice for devices requiring mobility. Short-range technologies such as Wi-Fi are mainly for indoor connectivity. The Low Power Wide Area Networks (LPWAN), including the cellular NB-IoT and technologies such as LoRa, are focused on battery-powered devices with a battery life of up to 10 years.

MANAGEMENT IS KEY FOR IOT
Cellular is the only technology that enables global central management by using the mobile operator’s existing roaming portfolio, typically in 200 or more countries. However, as discussed in our white paper, there are markets where permanent roaming is not a viable option (regulations and/or commercial reasons).

Initiatives such as Aptilo Zero-touch Wi-Fi IoT Connectivity™ and WBA’s OpenRoaming aims to make Wi-Fi-based IoT more seamless and secure also on a global scale.

A CLOSER LOOK AT TECHNOLOGIES FOR CELLULAR IOT
Today, many IoT applications are using the existing 4G (LTE) broadband, which has been improved for IoT. In the last few years, 3GPP has created new standards to better support specific use cases. The largest volume of new IoT devices will come in the Massive IoT area designed to support low-cost wearables, sensors, and meters over long distances. 5G provides the ability to support Critical IoT use cases for real-time mission-critical applications such as connected cars and remote surgery.

The Massive IoT market segment includes devices that are widely used in our society, mainly different sensors and meters. The NB-IoT and LTE-M technologies are the dominant technologies for Massive IoT. Compared to 4G, they are designed to deliver extreme coverage with much smaller data volumes and mainly periodical transfer of data. This means a battery life of up to 10 years which is ideal for low-cost devices such as smart meters.

NB-IoT is useful for simpler devices that don’t require connected mobility and tolerate low data rates in tens of Kbps and high latency of up to 10 seconds.
For tracking devices where connected mobility is crucial, CAT-M is a better choice. Cat-M also offers support for voice, higher data speeds of up to 1 Mbps and lower latency (100-150 ms).

According to the Ericsson Mobility report November 2020, massive IoT (NB-IoT and Cat-M) will have an explosive growth going from almost 200 million connected devices in 2020 to approximately 2.6 billion or 45% of all cellular IoT connections by the end of 2026. At the same time, the total number of cellular IoT devices will be approximately 5.9 billion and 44 percent of those will use broadband IoT and Critical IoT (first devices expected in 2021), with 4G connecting most devices.

The non-cellular long range technology low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) will, according to the same report, go from 200 million to 400 million between 2020-2026.