Renowned vendors of wireless broadband solutions, Mimosa and Cambium Networks, have taken the lead in developing outdoor fixed wireless products based on the latest Wi-Fi standard - 802.11ax also known as Wi-Fi 6, taking the first steps to revolutionise wireless broadband once again. Most currently used wireless broadband products are derived from earlier versions of Wi-Fi such as the 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5) and 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4). Wi-Fi 6 technology gives distinct advantages over previous generations, enabling faster and higher bandwidth delivery, higher sector density, and improved near-LoS and non-LoS performance in the 5GHz spectrum at a competitive price point.

The latest on Wi-Fi 6e for South Africa

Currently in South Africa, ICASA is under the process of reviewing the possible extention of the 5GHz ISM band to include 5.9-6.4GHz. This will allow us to use the full capabilities of Wi-Fi 6e, enabling higher wireless performance with less congestion and a better overall customer experience. Early testing of Wi-Fi 6e derived wireless broadband solutions indicate a significant increase in performance and reliability, reducing the bandwidth gap to fibre optics and other technologies, while remaining the quickest and most cost-effective way to connecting people to the internet. We will surely keep our eyes on ICASA and hope to see this regulation update earlier rather than later. 

What it means for South Africa

1. High bandwidth capabilities: Already built into the Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6e standards are OFDMA, a digital modulation technology that divides the wireless spectrum into smaller subchannels to enable simultaneous connectivity for multiple users. This increases overall network capacity and minimises congestion and delay, especially as customer density increases. This means that bandwidth is used more wisely, preventing capacity waste and customer dissatisfaction. 

2. Better Speeds using MU-MIMO: MU-MIMO has been a feature in recent standards, but it gets better as new technologies are developed and as standards are refined. Wi-Fi 5 allowed for simultaneous connectivity for up to 4 subscribers; Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6e has increased that to 8 subscribers, resulting in much improved spectral efficiency and ultimately improved customer experience. 

3. Higher Modulation: Wi-Fi 6 uses a very high optional modulation scheme called 1024-QAM (Wi-Fi 5 topped out at 256-QAM), with each symbol encoding more data bits in a dense constellation. This radio frequency modulation enhancement increases Wi‑Fi 6 throughput by up to 25% and promises greater spectral efficiency by incorporating more data into each transmission. This works wonders for higher density deployments and allows for more higher capacity internet packages to be delivered over the same radio sector.

4. Interference Mitigation and Distance: Once approved by the regulator, Wi-Fi 6e derived wireless broadband solutions will allow for the use of 5.9 – 6.4GHz, a clean section of spectrum that will alleviate the wireless interference challenges found on busy high sites. Reduced interference brings more wireless bandwidth and a better customer experience, along with the ability to carry wireless signal over longer distances due to the lower noise floor.  

With each new standard of Wi-Fi technology we see fixed wireless broadband following, utilising the advancements found in the new chipset and pairing it with proprietary airframe and antenna technologies developed by manufacturers such as Cambium Networks and Mimosa by Airspan. This brings massive generational performance leaps at very affordable prices, leveraging the advantages of mass produced Wi-Fi chipsets to keep costs down and performance up. With every new generation of wireless broadband technology, we see the performance margins between wireless and fibre technology shrinking, ultimately making internet connectivity more affordable and accessible than ever before.