There is a lot of hype around 5G these days, and for good reason, as it promises faster data speeds, lower latency and wider coverage to support a wide range of wireless applications such as remote medicine and autonomous warehouses. With these advancements, I’ve noticed the chatter around 5G as a Wi-Fi replacement, begging the question: Do we still need Wi-Fi?
A common misconception about Wi-Fi is that it’s outdated and doesn’t meet the needs of today’s organizations. That’s far from the truth. Newer standards such as Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 are comparable to 5G when it comes to performance in high-density environments.
In fact, because of advancements such as multilink operations and wider channels, expectations on Wi-Fi 7 are high. During its recent financial analyst event, Extreme Networks Inc. Chief Executive Ed Meyercord cited Dell’Oro data that forecasts Wi-Fi 7 deployments to outpace what was seen with 6 and 6E — comparable performance to 5G, yet Wi-Fi is easier to deploy and cost less.
Clearly, there’s a major incentive to push 5G as the main technology for enterprise connectivity. This is particularly true in high-density environments where there is a large concentration of users and devices. This includes stadiums, hospitals, universities, hotels, factories, office buildings and much more. But is 5G really the more practical choice?
Reality check: 5G vs. Wi-Fi
5G stands out when it comes to mobility and wide-area coverage. It can connect devices outdoors while they’re on the move. But inside buildings, 5G falls short. One major issue is indoor coverage, as noted by the GSMA, which represents mobile network operators worldwide. Walls, ceilings and other barriers interfere with signal strength because 5G doesn’t work well without a clear line of sight. Though outdoor antennas can be mounted on rooftops or towers, indoor setups are trickier. They usually require a dense network of radios and strong backhaul connections to work properly.
The added complexity makes indoor 5G deployments costly, which is why Wi-Fi remains the best option in most high-density environments. Wi-Fi systems are specifically designed for indoor use. They’re also easier to scale and manage without major upgrades. Wi-Fi uses unlicensed spectrum, so there aren’t recurring usage fees for organizations. Enterprise information technology teams already possess the skills to deploy, secure and monitor Wi-Fi networks, which simplifies the adoption process.
Private 5G is seen as an alternative to Wi-Fi for indoor connectivity, but organizations must accept additional tradeoffs. Private 5G network deployment requires organizations to obtain radio spectrum licenses and install dedicated 5G antennas or radios. It also requires IT teams to learn new management skills because they often lack expertise in cellular systems. Even if a managed service provider handles the setup, private 5G changes how the network is built and operated.
That said, 5G is useful in outdoor or mobile scenarios, such as logistics hubs, fleet management or temporary worksites. Private 5G networks have started to appear in retail environments to support point-of-sale devices. Some organizations deploy private 5G as a backup to redirect traffic when primary networks experience outages or slow down during peak usage periods. In most cases, 5G and Wi-Fi operate as complementary, not competin, technologies.
Real-world example: NFL deems Wi-Fi a critical resource
Earlier this year at the NFL TAC meetings, I caught up with Aaron Amendolia (pictured), deputy chief information officer of the NFL, and we talked about the importance of the network and Wi-Fi for fan experience. “What’s key to us is that our fans have a unique premium experience and that starts with technology,” he said. “We need good connectivity into the stadium, great game presentation from the sound and boards and using the device to get extra information such as stats and highlights.”
I followed up to ask him about the role of Wi-Fi versus 5G and whether the former was still crucial. “Wi-Fi is still critical,” he said. “If you look at it through the lens of the venue operator, cellular and Wi-Fi are both needed as fans come in with a wide range of devices. More and more fans are coming internationally, and we need to be ready to service them in any way they want to connect. As a league, we want to offer the best options to connect.” He added, “Also, there are areas of the stadium that may not get great cellular coverage and as a league we need to ensure back of house, corner use cases and all areas of concern are covered, and Wi-Fi does an excellent job of that.”
A new concern for the league today is that connectivity needs to support what Amendolia described as transitions. “Historically fans used their device at their seats,” he said. “Now it’s from the parking lot to the stadium or from the seat to concession or even for pop-up experiences we create.”
One of the underappreciated aspects of Wi-Fi is turning network data into business insights. Extreme Networks has been the official Wi-Fi Analytics provider for the league for over a decade and in that time the use of Wi-Fi data has evolved dramatically.
“Initially we wanted to understand how we are performing against our own standards by measuring bandwidth and throughput to the device,” Amendolia said. “That’s evolved over time to tracking things at the application layer to understand what fans are doing at the game. We have integrated this into our stat system so we can see when a touchdown pass occurs what the spike in usage is for the social applications. This provides great insights as to how are fans want to share our content.”
Final thoughts: Wi-Fi is as important as ever
As long as we have competing technologies, we will have the debate over whether one is required, but that’s the wrong way to think about it. IT decision makers need to understand the strengths of both 5G and Wi-Fi and use both in a complementary way to deliver the best network experience. Though the NFL might be considered a niche use case, since not every business has tens of thousands of people walking into their venues on “game day,” most businesses have more in common with the NFL than not.
In sports we call visitors fans, but in healthcare they are referred to as patients, in retail they are customers, and at airports they are travelers. All these people coming into these various organizations are using devices to shop, check in, look up information and other activities. If they can’t do it at that place of business, they’ll go elsewhere
I recently flew two airlines I don’t usually fly with, and neither offered Wi-Fi. It’s not that it was broken, that can happen, but they just don’t have it across their fleet. I won’t fly those airlines again. Airlines vary differently in experiences with lounges, seat style, food options and more, but for many people the decision to build loyalty with a brand is often rooted in connectivity.
As long as budgets and user experiences matter, Wi-Fi matters, today and into the foreseeable future.
