Wi-Fi has become a major part of how consumers access the internet, but telecoms operators continue to focus much of their investment and attention on fibre and mobile networks.
The growing use of Wi-Fi raises a question for the telecoms industry: should it be treated as a core part of the network rather than simply the final connection inside a home or business?
For customers, the distinction between fibre, mobile and Wi-Fi is largely irrelevant. They expect their devices to remain connected and services to work consistently, regardless of which technology is carrying the data. This makes the quality of the Wi-Fi network an important part of the overall connectivity experience.
A high-speed broadband connection can only deliver its full potential if the Wi-Fi equipment distributing that connection around the property can support the available speeds. Poor coverage, congestion or older equipment can therefore limit the experience even when the underlying broadband connection is performing as expected.
This creates an opportunity for telecoms operators to take greater control of the Wi-Fi experience. Managed Wi-Fi services can include mesh networks, network monitoring, security features and tools for managing connected devices. These services can give operators greater visibility of the connection beyond the broadband router.
Wi-Fi can also provide an additional way of managing network capacity. Traffic transferred over Wi-Fi does not place the same demands on cellular networks, making it useful for operators dealing with increasing data consumption. For customers using smartphones, tablets and other connected devices at home or in other fixed locations, Wi-Fi can effectively complement mobile connectivity.
The development of newer Wi-Fi standards is increasing its capabilities. Wi-Fi 7 is designed to provide higher speeds, lower latency and greater reliability, while additional spectrum is supporting the development of higher-capacity wireless networks.
Public Wi-Fi is another area where the technology could become more integrated into the wider connectivity proposition. One of the barriers has traditionally been the need for users to find networks and enter credentials manually. Technologies designed to automate authentication could make the transition between cellular and Wi-Fi connections less noticeable to users.
For telecoms operators, this could lead to a broader definition of connectivity. Rather than selling separate broadband, mobile and Wi-Fi services, operators could manage connectivity across several technologies as a single customer proposition.
Cerillion plc (LON:CER) is a leading provider of billing, charging and customer management systems with more than 20 years’ experience delivering its solutions across a broad range of industries including the telecommunications, finance, utilities and transportation sectors.
