Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1327492
34 I ICT TODAY Table 5 shows the development of wireless standards starting with Wi-Fi 3 in 2003. Bandwidth and maximum data rates, based on a maximum number of users and throughput, have grown from 54 Mb/s for Wi-Fi 3 to 9600 Mb/s for Wi-Fi 6. Between 2014 and today, the implementation of Wi-Fi 3 and 4 has virtually disappeared. At the same time, Wi-Fi 6 has rapidly become the default standard in the industry. Its performance advantages, as detailed in the table above, are the result of several developments. One important technical feature of Wi-Fi 6 is orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA), a multi-user version of the OFDM digital modulation scheme. OFDMA allows data transmission signals to be split into smaller signals, increasing network speed and efficiency. It can help improve end device rates by as much as four times, increase capacity, and reduce latency to under 1 millisecond. Another key technology is beamforming, a process that allows a signal to be sent directly to a specific device, increasing the signal's strength and enabling more reliable wireless communication. Beamforming increases performance, capacity, and data rates, especially in environments with many devices. Capacity is further increased using improved multiple- input and multiple-output (MIMO). In addition, new features available in the batteries found in end devices extend their performance and durability. These include a "target wake time" feature, through which WAPs and devices can negotiate and define specific times to access the network. This optimizes spectral efficiency by minimizing contention and overlap between client devices. DESIGNING A CABLE PLANT FOR EVOLVING WI-FI APPLICATIONS Enhancements to cabling product design and con- struction are helping the industry keep pace with new wireless standards. Manufacturers understand that, while Wi-Fi 4 and some segment of Wi-Fi 5 applications could be achieved with Cat 6 cables, it is necessary to upgrade to 6A cables to reap the full benefit of this application. Cable plant designers and users are advised to plan their cabling installation for Wi-Fi 6 and beyond. Such a cable plant can accommodate today's requirements for bandwidth and data rates while allowing for future growth based on PoE demand and future-proofing the network to maximize return on investment. In terms of cable plant size, it is recommended to install four Cat 6A cables per access point today to support increased density and speeds beyond 10 Gb/s. In the initial phase of a typical installation, the network will be running Wi-Fi 5 or 6 out to two WAPs. Here, the best course of action is to run four Cat 6A cables to each of the two access points. While only one cable will be used during this phase, installing all four cables at the outset with the other three cables "on reserve" will future proof the network and reduce overall costs. In the second phase of this scenario, the network will be running Wi-Fi 6. Serving four WAPs will increase network density, providing higher bandwidth and more access points. Two of the "reserve" 6A cables will be run to additional devices; there is no need for additional labor or installation costs since the cables have already been installed. This provides double the density, more band- width to users, and more access points per floor. Wi-Fi 3 (802.11g) Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ae) Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) Introduced 2003 2009 2014 2016 Data rates (maximum) 54 Mb 600 Mb 6900 Mb 9600 Mb Bands 2.4 GHz 2.4 or 5 GHz 5 GHz 2.4 or 5 GHz (6 GHz Compatible) Category cable recommendations 6 6A 6A TABLE 5: Comparison of wireless standards.