The Present and Future of Wi-Fi Technology

  

From Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 7 and beyond, wireless networks are reshaping every connected device on Earth.

 

Wi-Fi

 "Could you give me the Wi-Fi password?"

It suggests you are out of touch with the modern world if you have never asked or been asked this question.

To begin with, Wi-Fi was first presented to the market in 1997 as a technology that provided wireless internet access inside a certain area.

The term "Wi-Fi" originated with the Wi-Fi Alliance, but it has since become so commonplace that the Royal Spanish Academy has even included it in its.

 

However, the term has no specific meaning; as Phil Belanger—one of the company's founding members—revealed, it was simply a clever marketing strategy.

The IEEE 802.11 standard, a wireless connectivity system developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a global organization of engineers committed to standards and improving technical disciplines globally, is also the foundation of Wi-Fi.

Wi-Fi technology has advanced steadily over the last 25 years, significantly changing how people connect.

"The biggest impact and benefit of Wi-Fi is equal access to the internet," says Sujit Dey, Director of the Center for Wireless Communications at the University of California, San Diego. If global development had relied entirely on cellular or satellite technology, only the wealthy would have had access to it.

 

Because it operates on unlicensed airwaves, Wi-Fi is universally accessible.

Professor Day observes, "Because no single entity controls it, service quality can sometimes be compromised." Yet, unlike proprietary cable networks, this open and unregulated access is crucial: without Wi-Fi, millions globally would remain entirely without internet access.

Wi-Fi Significant Economic Impact

Dorothy Stanley, a member of the Standards Association at the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), estimates that the economic impact amounts to "billions of dollars annually. It has a remarkable effect. I think it's hard to overstate or undervalue the impact that connectivity has on individuals.

According to Wi-Fi Alliance predictions, roughly 18 billion Wi-Fi-enabled devices will be in use in 2022.

How wireless is reshaping every device, every home, and every city.

In 2021 and 2025, the predicted global economic value of Wi-Fi was $3.3 trillion and $4.9 trillion, respectively.

Wi-Fi has offered consumers more efficient, reliable, and secure connections; enabled complex connectivity systems in homes and enterprises for hybrid or remote work; and spurred the growing demand for the Internet of Things (IoT).

As our world becomes increasingly interconnected, what does the future hold for seamless connectivity—and what technology will eventually replace or evolve beyond Wi-Fi.

Accessing the Network of Networks

While Wi-Fi has expanded rapidly across the developed world over the last two decades, many regions globally still lack both Wi-Fi and basic internet access.

For instance, a 2021 study by the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), and Microsoft estimated that 244 million people in Latin America—representing one-third of the population—lack an internet connection.

However, governments and organizations accelerated technology advancements to close the digital divide remotely as connectivity became crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Director of the standards task force, Dorothy Stanley, says: "While Wi-Fi may not be a complete solution on its own, it is certainly a vital component of the overall solution."

Experts cite examples of hybrid connectivity systems that use satellite, fiber optics, and wireless technologies in remote areas of Canada and India.

Dorothy says, "If we talk about the future of connectivity, I think the short answer is that we will see improvements and expansion, bringing coverage to areas that currently lack it."

She highlighted Mexico City's achievements, noting that its 21,500 free Wi-Fi access points earned it a 2021Guinness World Record for the world’s most connected city.

Wi-Fi: The Current State 

Faster speeds, innovative features and technologies, and simplified naming rules have driven Wi-Fi's continuous evolution since its inception.

In 2021, Wi-Fi 6 (602.11ax) was released, introducing support for the 6 GHz frequency band alongside 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. It delivers maximum speeds up to 9.6 gigabits per second (Gbps).

 

However, it is not yet commercially available.

Meanwhile, experts are developing Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be). A June 2022 task force study predicts it will deliver improved performance and mark a major milestone for wireless connectivity.

All evidence suggests that Wi-Fi has limitless potential.

Stanley states, "We haven't found a replacement for it yet, and estimates suggest that the demand for Wi-Fi will increase tenfold over the next decade; consequently, we are witnessing a continuous expansion of Wi-Fi."

"I think we will see even more Wi-Fi in the future," she continues. We want consumers to keep using the devices they have already invested in and purchased; therefore, we are concentrating on increasing efficiency and range while preserving backward compatibility with previous iterations."

Contemporary Wi-Fi innovations not only boost speeds but also sustain them across numerous connected devices.

"As people adopt more technology—from smartphones to smartwatches and AR glasses—the strain on networks increase," explains Professor Dey. “Wi-Fi must continuously evolve to sport this hyper-connected future.

From Wi-Fi 6 to Wi-Fi 7 and beyond: how wireless networks are reshaping every device we own.

Alternatives to Wi-Fi

While Wi-Fi remains the leading wireless standard, next-generation technologies could eventually supplement or replace it.

Meanwhile, Europe's phased rollout means that unlocking the full potential of true 5G is still several years away.

By the end of 2026, 5G will account for about 43% of mobile subscribers in Latin America, according to research by technology company Ericsson, while high installation costs continue to be a major obstacle.

"Many people cannot afford 5G plans, so Wi-Fi remains the cheapest alternative for them," says a UCSD professor. However, as Wi-Fi is obviously not portable, accessible and budget-friendly 5G plans are essential.

Data Transmission via Light

 
The name "Li-Fi," which refers to a technology that transmits data via LED lights, was first used in 2011 by Harald Haas, a professor of mobile communications at the University of Edinburgh.

One drawback of conventional Wi-Fi routers is that they may cause interference when several devices connect at once in the same area.

According to the Li-Fi creator, the technology can run multiple LED lights in a single room without signal interference.

With rates of one gigabit per second (Gbps), Li-Fi can deliver internet access up to 100 times quicker than conventional Wi-Fi.

It needs an internet connection, a photodetector, and a light source, such as typical LED lamp or bulb.

Professor Day notes that while Wi-Fi technology is highly effective for indoor environments, the necessary infrastructure makes it a costly investment.

"Consider an office where specialized reflectors need to be installed," he says. "The main disadvantage is the requirement for completely new infrastructure, even if it offers significant speed and connectivity benefits.

Satellite-Based Connectivity 

Companies like Elon Musk's Starlink deliver high-speed satellite broadband to remote and rural areas for $110 per month, plus a one-time hardware fee of $599.

Stanley says, "Starlink is a modern addition to our connectivity portfolio. I think it has the potential to expand current satellite deployments and perhaps make this technology more affordable and widely used."

 

However, satellite communication introduces higher latency, causing greater signal delay than Wi-Fi or cellular networks.

Professor Day explains, "To mitigate this issue, some companies are using low-orbit satellites, which experience fewer latency problems. They are now also attempting to integrate satellite technology with Wi-Fi."

 

"If this integration succeeds over the next few years, it won't just be a select few who can work remotely; many more people will be able to do so, as Wi-Fi connectivity will be available everywhere."

Wireless Insights, Issue 34: a look at where Wi-Fi technology is heading.

Additionally, Professor Day pointed to ambitious projects—such as Google's internet balloons and experimental drone fleets—designed to bring connectivity to underserved areas.

He says, "I think the best connectivity will come from the air, as the infrastructure costs involved would be significantly lower." 

According to them, "You can reach areas where fiber optics are unavailable, especially in underdeveloped countries aspiring to become more developed.

Future Connectivity

A variety of emerging technologies are presently being tested and will eventually be implemented.

Stanley argues, "There is no single technique that encompasses everything. There is a demand for the market, and so there are different products, and bring them to market to meet people's needs for staying connected wherever they are."

He says, "Our vision for the future is for everyone to be connected."

Professor Day contends that access to connectivity must be recognized as a fundamental right, especially as the digital landscape undergoes drastic shifts over the coming decades

He concluded by asserting, "Without connectivity, constructive progress is impossible."

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