Why Bridging 5G and Wi-Fi Is Key to a Connected Future

As 5G  and Wi-Fi 6 continue their rollout at a similar rate, the next generation of connectivity is finally beginning to emerge. Enhanced throughput, better connection density, broader coverage and easier accessibility are promised, but is convergence the key to unlocking this promise? Tiago Rodrigues, CEO at Wireless Broadband Alliance, why bridging 5G and W-iFi is essential for our connected future.

When we consider the future of connectivity and how a truly connected digital landscape might look, our minds almost immediately snap to 5G. It is natural to think that cellular technology would hold everything together with the successful rollout of IoT devices and our increasing dependence on the cloud. The truth, however, is far more nuanced. If we take advantage of things like edge computing, enhanced throughput, higher connection density, broader coverage and wider accessibility, true interoperability between Wi-Fi 6 and 5G will be a necessary bedrock in the coming decades. 

Rather than go head-to-head with Wi-Fi in an attempt to replace it, vendors and cellular operators should perhaps turn their attention to the mutual long-term benefits that convergence has to offer. Suppose the borders between cellular and Wi-Fi technologies are made less impenetrable. In that case, both sides stand to benefit from a raft of new use cases and business opportunities, paving the way for OpenRoaming™and a more seamlessly connected consumer landscape. 

Why Are Operators Considering Convergence?

Mobile network operators (MNOs) stand to gain significantly from the interoperability afforded by convergence. For one, they’ll have improved visibility over Wi-Fi networks, allowing them to market their services more effectively and improve the quality of experience (QoE) they offer users. And let’s not forget, given their track record for handling users and data, MNOs are ideally placed to provide Wi-Fi network management solutions to large enterprise customers, which could open up an entirely new revenue stream for the sector.

Wi-Fi operators will also be able to offload user traffic to cellular networks with less friction and more context, allowing MNOs to tailor their services further and improve the overall customer experience. 

Crucially, convergence will permit Wi-Fi operators to use 5G cellular services to fill in any connectivity gaps that exist between their web of fixed networks. However, authentication and secure, automatic onboarding between the two technologies will need to be established for this to be realized. Far from being a negative point, this interdependency can potentially create untold opportunities for cellular and fixed network architectures as we move to a more connected world.

Mobile operators, for instance, are going to need convergence with Wi-Fi technology if they want 5G to fulfill its promises around accessibility and coverage this century. At the current rate, according to Statista, 5G will only account for roughly 34% of total mobile connections by 2025. Around the world, 5G penetration is only expected to reach around 20% and stay there by 2030. Therefore it is apparent that Wi-Fi fixed networks will be crucial to 5G’s long-term sustainability. 

See More: Top 5 Wi-Fi Analyzer Apps to Drive Seamless and High-Speed Connectivity 

What Can We Expect From Convergence?

We have already made a case for the convergence of MNOs and Wi-Fi networks in terms of the potential for barrier-free connectivity. But how will that potential be filled? What are the incentives, and what are the business use-cases that will emerge at the network and RAN layers that currently aren’t possible? 

The potential use cases are honestly too numerous to list in any one article, but let’s take enterprise Wi-Fi and the opportunity for MNOs to provide more seamless onboarding to customers as an example. Traditionally, enterprise Wi-Fi deployments are used to give employees and people on-site access to the internet, but only with certain restrictions in place.

These access points often serve a wide area and hundreds of devices, so policy controls, terms of service and, of course, regulatory compliance around data sharing must all be considered. This can provide some unwanted friction in the onboarding process, forcing users to sign up or click-through service agreements before they are allowed to connect. On the other hand, most network operators will go through this process only once when their subscribers join the network long-term, so this regulatory compliance could be ‘baked in’ and ready to go from fixed network to fixed network. 

That means it may well be more beneficial for an enterprise to have these aspects managed by a mobile service provider, who may also be able to fill in any gaps in coverage for huge workplaces. This is just one of many examples of how Wi-Fi and 5G technologies can overlap and benefit one another instead of competing, ultimately providing better service and less friction for users. 

Another example of convergence in action could be ‘smart cities.’ Instead of users having to constantly re-connect and enter their personal details as they roam from hotspot to hotspot, re-accepting terms and conditions and going through the log-in process, Passpoint-enabled technology such as OpenRoaming can ensure a more seamless and frictionless transition as people move around a town or city. The Telecom Infra Project (TIP) and its OpenWiFi initiative take this idea even further, disaggregating Wi-Fi and removing vendor lock-in, giving businesses more control and opportunity over how they deliver Wi-Fi and how it can be monetized. 

Integration of Wi-Fi and 5G technologies will undoubtedly come with its fair share of challenges, but the potential advantages of convergence outweigh any short-term difficulties. Not to mention, many of the obstacles to progress are already being addressed as businesses on both sides are beginning to realize that to achieve true global connectivity and action, convergence is an important stepping stone to progress. 

How do you think the 5G-Wi-Fi gap can be better bridged? What benefits would that mean for your enterprise? Tell us what you think on LinkedInOpens a new window , TwitterOpens a new window , or FacebookOpens a new window . We’re always happy to hear from you!