Forget 5G, it's Wi-Fi that continues to grow
Faster 4G – and the promise of 5G – will help businesses on the move. But Wi-Fi will remain a core service for years to come.
This benefits businesses in three ways: Wi-Fi is still usually faster than a mobile connection; Wi-Fi-only tablets are cheaper than those that also include a cellular modem, and there is no need to sign employees up for cellular data plans.
These plans remain relatively expensive; anecdotal evidence from CIOs suggest that only workers whose jobs make cellular data access essential are given 4G-ready tablets or devices. For others, Wi-Fi is usually good enough, especially when combined with tethering or a mobile hotspot on their smartphones, for occasional use.
The fact that Wi-Fi is now the network connection of choice in more and more offices is also likely to ensure its survival: it is hard to imagine a smart device now, that has no in-built Wi-Fi. And, as more non-IT devices, from cameras to domestic appliances, come with Wi-Fi built in, the technology's future looks assured at least until 5G comes along.
Stephen Pritchard is a contributing editor at IT Pro.
The state of Salesforce: Future of business
Three articles that look forward into the changing state of Salesforce and the future of business
Free DownloadThe mighty struggle to migrate SAP to the cloud may be over
A simplified and unified approach to delivering Enterprise Transformation in the cloud
Free Download
The Total Economic Impact™ Of IBM FlashSystem
Cost savings and business benefits enabled by FlashSystem
Free Download
