What do you think is going to happen across the Wi-Fi world in 2016? I have no doubt that 2016 will be positive, profitable, and not least eventful. Part of this is probably wishful thinking (!!) but I believe at least some of the following Wi-Fi predictions will hold true for 2016:
Connectivity managers come of age: Finding & accessing Wi-Fi networks will finally be seamless and intelligent as will switching between mobile and Wi-Fi on the fly. Consumers will finally get what they want: The best service wherever they are regardless of technology.
Wi-Fi will become the OTT network of choice for Internet content & service providers: Inexpensive and ideal for video, big aggregated Wi-Fi networks will become the medium of choice for the likes of Google, Facebook, Netflix, Amazon, Microsoft, and many more.
The beginning (and end) of LTE-U: Carriers will begin testing larger-scale LTE-U deployments although such networks are unlikely to do much damage to Wi-Fi services to start with. If they do, carriers will face a slew of lawsuits from big enterprises that have invested heavily in Wi-Fi networks.
Wi-Fi First goes mainstream: At least one major US cableco will launch a nationwide Wi-Fi First service that will rattle the mobile industry. I’m betting that two such services will be launched and probably at least one by acquisition.
A comeback for retail: One or two major retail chains will launch Wi-Fi-based consumer engagement services that will inspire a comeback for brick-and-mortar stores. It probably won’t turn out to be exactly what we think but data analytics and location-based services will play an important role.
City Wi-Fi continues to surge: City Wi-Fi networks will continue to mushroom across the US and emerging markets. For the visionary entrepreneur there’s a huge opportunity in linking these up for big footprint Wi-Fi connectivity services.
/Claus Hetting
#citywifi
Hi Claus
Thanks for proving the opportunity to discuss. A few of my thoughts on these topics:
I have been using my Galaxy S6 Edge+ on EE for a few months now. I set it to favour Wi-Fi ahead of LTE/whatever for all comms. I find it switches between them very well, so Wi-Fi offloading is mainstream, if you can afford the best. If you can’t, wait, it will soon get cheaper.
If I can’t get good Wi-Fi I use LTE, so I don’t much care as a consumer which uses what spectrum. As a wireless networks specialist, even though a vague notion of cooperation is being talked-up, I do have a problem with LTE-U encroaching on already heavily used spectrum. Not just because of difficulties created for Wi-Fi, but also because that spectrum is used by many classes of device, some yet to be created that will no doubt become important. General purpose wireless data transport is now so important to a developed society that needs to be protected from narrower concerns like those of mobile network operators. Also regulators should ban the sale of infrastructure equipment supporting older Wi-Fi standards, and later do the same for other devices. Then we would get much more from our spectrum.
A long time ago now I posted on a LinkedIn retail managers forum about the importance of creating an ‘experience’ for visitors. We can buy cheaply and conveniently from the Internet; so why visit an establishment unless we are going to enjoy something extra. As connectivity is now so vital to us I am sure that providing great connectivity via Wi-Fi will help improve the experience. I know that useful data can be derived from providing that service, and that it is about to evolve in an important way that I think will surprise some.
Like everything else, city management evolves. As we have long expected street lighting, so now it is natural to expect general purpose wireless connectivity from municipal providers through taxation.