How to leverage connectivity as a catalyst for enterprise innovation: Cisco and top experts chime in

Our wireless experts from across the ecosystem discuss how Wi-Fi’s evolution is set to positively transform the way enterprises connect and operate in the digital age. In this blog post, we will delve into the key takeaways from this discussion, including:

• How Wi-Fi has emerged as the most significant technology story of the past 25 years and why the 6GHz band is crucial in ensuring its continued growth.
  
• How Wi-Fi 7 is unlocking new possibilities for optimized performance, seamless experiences and driving the adoption of emerging technologies.
• Why artificial intelligence (AI) constitutes one of the greatest opportunities for network evolution.

Wi-Fi: 25 years of exponential growth, adoption

As Wi-Fi celebrates its 25th anniversary, it stands as one of the most remarkable success stories in technology, propelling advancements that have profoundly impacted our lives. It has continuously evolved, providing faster and more reliable connectivity to meet the growing demands of data and devices. This progress has enabled the wireless connection of an increasing number of devices and applications, untethering them from wired connections. According to Paliwal,

While success typically breeds success, in the case of Wi-Fi, this exponential growth has also led to spectrum congestion. This phenomenon is particularly evident in enterprise deployments, where the rapid introduction of new devices and applications is challenging Wi-Fi's capabilities.

The 6GHz Band: a watershed moment for Wi-Fi 

Fira de Barcelona exemplifies the increasing demand for Wi-Fi. During the 2024 Mobile World Congress (MWC), the venue's network, powered by 1,700 Cisco access points, handled over 48,000 unique devices  over four days. 

In addition to this high device density, the venue must also accommodate exhibitor networks. The utilization of the new 6GHz spectrum becomes crucial in providing increased capacity and channels to support bandwidth-intensive applications. 

Not just for the venue, but on a global scale, the inclusion of the 6GHz spectrum marked a significant milestone for Wi-Fi, especially in meeting the wireless connectivity needs of enterprises where applications require seamless integration of low latency, high bandwidth capabilities and support for large numbers of devices. 

While spectrum allocation varies by region, hundreds of millions of people now have access to a full 1200MHz of 6GHz spectrum, with some regions choosing to initially allocate a smaller swath of 500MHz. In all cases, Cisco and Qualcomm Technologies are collaborating with regulators around the globe to champion 6GHz Wi-Fi advancements. According to Paliwal Wi-Fi is akin to a startup; it began with a modest investment in the 2.4GHz band. Strengthened by subsequent investments in the 5GHz band spectrum, Wi-Fi transformed into a multi-trillion-dollar unicorn, achieving ubiquity. 

Now, with the introduction of the new 6GHz spectrum, fresh investments are being made into this unicorn based on its impressive track record. Swaminathan echoes this sentiment, 

Paving the way for the future: Wi-Fi 7

The evolution of Wi-Fi continues with Wi-Fi 7, offering new tools and capabilities to optimize performance across all three bands. As Swaminathan explains, 

With the implementation of Multi-Link Operation (MLO), Wi-Fi now possesses the ability to operate on multiple bands concurrently for increased performance and reliability. Moreover, Wi-Fi 7 introduces preamble puncturing, which is particularly beneficial in enterprise environments, for its capability to manage interference. 

Paliwal highlights how the recent advancements in Wi-Fi unlock its utilization beyond mere connectivity. It now caters to applications that demand guaranteed performance in unlicensed spectrum, offering SLA-based latency and reliability: This opens up possibilities such as relocating production lines to Wi-Fi in industry 4.0 manufacturing plants.

These use cases were unimaginable just 25 years ago, allowing for truly untethered experiences. For instance, in XR, the computation and connectivity can be seamlessly handled in the backend, enabling users to enjoy truly immersive experiences.

Montis Palos says the key feature of Wi-Fi 7 is its stability, adding, "With Wi-Fi 7, in my opinion, the key feature is stability, with multi-link operation, if we can have stable connection in the 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz at the same time, it opens the door to move the more critical services that used wired connections over to Wi-Fi."

Collaborative success: Qualcomm Technologies and Cisco on Wi-Fi 6E, 7 and beyond

Wi-Fi’s resounding success and continuous evolution, according to Paliwal, is intricately connected to the ecosystem working together. He says,

"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."

Cisco and Qualcomm Technologies have a deep-rooted collaboration that extends well beyond networking infrastructure and Wi-Fi access points, encompassing various initiatives such as location technology and AI projects. 

To make Wi-Fi as successful in the next 25 years as it’s been in the last 25 years, Paliwal adds,

Swaminathan adds that with expertise in both the wireless infrastructure and client side of the Wi-Fi ecosystems, Qualcomm Technologies’ extensive range of technology tools complements Cisco's wide array of applications and end customers, making them a perfect match as a technology partner and system provider.

This holistic approach allows them to collaborate to support a seamless and optimized end-to-end user experience. A collaborative effort ultimately aims to deliver truly differentiated Wi-Fi experiences for Cisco’s customers. 

The impact of AI on networking

AI constitutes one of the greatest opportunities for network evolution. In a venue like Fira de Barcelona, the network serves a much greater purpose than just providing connectivity. It acts as a powerful sensor, offering a wide range of analytics capabilities. 

By leveraging Cisco Spaces smart venue technology, valuable insights can be obtained regarding network usage, location analytics, temperature, air quality and more. 

Paliwal shares how when combined with AI, these analytics enable optimization and self-adjustment not only of the network itself but also of the venue as a whole. For instance, real-time HVAC optimization based on occupancy levels or the ability to detect security threats by analyzing movement patterns. 

The potential for transformative use cases is immense, as the intelligence derived from the network can inspire the development of innovative applications that enhance the overall experience.

For Swaminathan, AI enables the delivery of value-add through adaptive and predictive services such as customer care, maintenance, network management and operations. These opportunities present Qualcomm Technologies with a chance to leverage their expertise in both on-device AI and hybrid AI solutions so customers can unlock the full potential of AI, both at the device level and in the cloud.

Wi-Fi 7 and Private 5G: coexistence or overlap?   

The advanced features of Wi-Fi 7, which enable higher deterministic behavior and reduced latency in unlicensed spectrum, have sparked discussions about its potential as a viable alternative to private 5G networks. 

Swaminathan also notes the choice between Wi-Fi 7 and private 5G is not an either-or decision, but rather depends on the specific use case: Private 5G networks are well-suited for applications requiring precise timing or high levels of security. 

On the other hand, Wi-Fi is effective for scenarios involving deployments serving a large number of diverse Wi-Fi enabled devices. The technology decision also considers factors like deployment longevity and cost-tradeoff.  

With the capability to serve both 5G and Wi-Fi, Qualcomm Technologies ensures that they can meet their customers' needs with the most appropriate technology.

Paliwal agrees, stating that Cisco is actively involved in both Wi-Fi and private 5G deployments. However, he emphasizes the significance of ensuring a smooth integration between these two technologies to avoid any negative impact on the user experience. 

To address this concern, Cisco has implemented OpenRoaming, a widely adopted technology that enables users to seamlessly transition between 5G and Wi-Fi networks. This technology has been widely deployed, including at this year's MWC event.

What is the future of connectivity?

With Qualcomm Technologies powering the Cisco advancements in Wi-Fi, the introduction of the 6GHz band, Wi-Fi 7 and AI are poised to revolutionize the way enterprises connect and innovate. The collaborative efforts between Qualcomm Technologies and Cisco leverage their expertise in networking infrastructure and client-side ecosystems to ensure a seamless and optimized user experience. Stay tuned for more on our innovative work with Cisco, as we continue to drive innovation and shape the future of connectivity.