This report addresses recent or planned enhancements to one of the most established and powerful wireless technology - Wi-Fi. Originating in the 20th century, this WLAN family belongs to a very small group of communications technologies that are not obsolete with time. The family continues to grow to add new members that bring WLAN to the forefront of today's innovations in communications with multiple applications and push up the limits in performance. Wi-Fi will support and strengthen 5G networks making them more flexible and efficient.
The report's goal is to analyze recently introduced or still in the development advanced Wi-Fi technologies, their applications, and the marketplace. It also surveys related industries.
In particular, it addresses such developments as:
- 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4). The technology has already produced a multi-billion market, improving such communications characteristics as the rate of transmission, coverage, and others. It significantly increased the spectrum of Wi-Fi applications. In recent years, 802.11n products dominated the Wi-Fi market; but this technology is gradually losing its leading position to newer members of the Wi-Fi family, such as:
- 60 GHz Wi-Fi - 802.11ad/ay. This is the Wi-Fi industry's response to the users’ new requirements to support gigabits per second transmission rates over shorter ranges for such applications as a home/office distribution of HDVD and similar bandwidth-hunger applications. The report addresses specifics of 60 GHz channels and details WiGig/802.11ad technology. It also introduces the NG 60 GHz 802.11ay standard.
- White Spaces Wi-Fi (White Wi-Fi - 802.11af). This technology allows utilizing the property of sub-gigahertz transmission together with Wi-Fi advances. It uses unused windows of the TV spectrum and will work with Cognitive Radios.
- Sub - 6 GHz Wi-Fi - 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5). This development allows gigabits per second speed and improves characteristics of IEEE 802.11n technology in a wide spectrum of characteristics.
- Sub - 1 GHz Wi-Fi (excluding White Spaces) - 802.11ah.
- 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6), which stretches Wi-Fi characteristics beyond imaginable just a few years ago.
- Wi-Fi 6E - 802.11ax in the 6 GHz band
- WAVE 802.11p - Dedicated Short Reach Communications 5.9 GHz- contribution of Wi-Fi in the development of the connected car.
- Other.
The report details technical and marketing specifics of these types of WLAN technologies as well as surveys their industries and shows that Wi-Fi 6 is ready to meet some 5G requirements; with incoming Wi-Fi 7 bringing an even wider spectrum of advanced characteristics.
The report was developed for technical and managerial personnel working on Wi-Fi-related projects to give them better-understanding the specifics of this family of technologies and markets. The report also includes a survey of Wi-Fi technologies-related patents for 2018-2022.
Table of Contents
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Wi-Fi Alliance
1.2 Elements
1.3 Legacy Wi-Fi
1.3.1 802.11b
1.3.1.1 Characteristics
1.3.1.2 Physical Layer
1.3.1.3 Data Link Layer
1.3.2 Family - First Members
1.3.2.1 802.11a
1.3.2.2 802.11g
1.3.3 WI-Fi Generations
1.4 Report Scope
1.5 Details
1.6 Research Methodology
1.7 Target Audience
2.0 IEEE 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4)
2.1 Process
2.1.1 Environment
2.1.2 Draft v. 1.0
2.1.3 Draft v. 2.0
2.1.4 Further Developments and IEEE Approval
2.2 Certification Process
2.3 802.11n Technology Specifics
2.3.1 Advances
2.3.1.1 MIMO
2.3.1.2 Spatial Division Multiplexing
2.3.1.3 OFDM
2.3.1.4 Channel Bonding
2.3.1.5 Packet Aggregation
2.3.2 PHY and MAC
2.4 Major Features: Summary
2.4.1 Specifics
2.4.2 Channel Bandwidth
2.4.3 Backward Compatibility
2.4.4 Adaptation
2.4.5 Security
2.4.6 Enhancements: Summary
2.5 Benefits and Applications
2.5.1 Benefits
2.5.2 Applications
2.6 Market
2.6.1 Drivers
2.6.2 Market Forecast
2.6.2.1 Model Assumptions
2.6.2.2 Forecast
2.7 Industry
- Aruba-HP (APs)
- Broadcom (Chipsets)
- Cisco (APs)
- Netgear (Routers, APs)
- Redpine Signals (Chipsets)
- Qualcomm (Chipsets, AP)
- Quantenna - On Semiconductor (chipsets)
- TP-Link (Routers)
- ZyXel (AP, Router, WUSB)
3.0 IEEE 802.11ac (Wi-Fi 5)
3.1 General - Improving 802.11n Characteristics
3.2 Approval
3.3 Major Features
3.4 Benefits
3.5 Usage Models
3.6 PHY
3.7 MAC Improvements
3.8 Waves
3.9 MIMO and 802.11ac Standard
3.9.1 Comparison
3.10 Industry
- Broadcom
- Buffalo
- D-Link
- Huawei
- Linksys
- Marvell
- MediaTek
- Netgear
- Qorvo
- Quantenna (A division of On Semiconductor)
- Redpine Signals
3.11 Market
4.0 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6)
4.1 Scope
4.1.1 Initiation
4.1.2 Structure
4.1.3 Enhancements
4.1.3.1 Role of MU MIMO
4.2 Marketing Considerations
4.3 Industry
- Aruba (a HP Enterprise Company)
- Asus
- Broadcom
- Extreme Networks
- Huawei
- Intel
- Marvell
- Qualcomm
4.4 Wi-Fi in 6 GHz Band - Wi-Fi 6E
5.0 60 GHz Wi-Fi
5.1 Goal
5.2 General
5.3 60 GHz Band Spectrum Specifics
5.3.1 Frequencies Allocation
5.3.2 Oxygen Absorption
5.4 Antenna
5.5 Radiation Limitations at 60 GHz
5.6 Combined Effect
5.7 Progress in Chip Technology
5.7.1 Challenges and Efforts
5.7.2 Modulation
5.8 Summary
5.9 60 GHz WLAN
5.9.1 Benefits and Issues
5.9.2 WiGig Alliance
5.9.2.1 Specification: 60 GHz Wi-Fi
5.9.2.2 WiGig Protocol Adaption Layer Specifications
5.9.2.3 The WiGig Bus Extension and WiGig Serial Extension Specification
5.9.2.4 The WiGig Display Extension Specification
5.9.2.5 Union
5.9.3 IEEE 802.11ad - 60 GHz Wi-Fi
5.9.3.1 Status
5.9.3.2 Coexistence
5.9.3.3 Scope
5.9.3.4 Channelization
5.9.3.5 PHY
5.9.3.6 MAC
5.9.3.7 Specifics
3.9.3.8 Use Cases
5.9.4 Industry
- Blu Wireless
- Intel
- Lattice
- Peraso
- Qualcomm
- Tensorcom
- TP-Link
5.10 802.11ay - Next Generation 60 GHz Wi-Fi
5.10.1 Purpose and Schedule
5.10.2 Scope
5.10.3 Details
5.10.3.1 Channel Bonding and Aggregation
5.10.3.2 IEEE 802.11ay Physical Layer
5.10.4 Industry
- Blu Wireless
- Cambium Networks
- IgniteNet
- Qualcomm
5.10.5 60GHz Wi-Fi Market Considerations
5.10.5.1 Market Drivers
5.10.5.2 Usage Models
5.10.5.3 Market Estimate
6.0 White-Fi
6.1 White Spaces
6.1.1 General
6.1.2 Digital Revolution
6.1.3 Factors
6.1.4 FCC Activity
6.1.4.1 Super Wi-Fi Hot Spots
6.1.4.2 Role of Database
6.1.4.3 Specifics
6.1.4.3.1 TV Spectrum Utilization
6.1.4.4 TVBD - Details
6.1.4.5 First Network
6.1.4.6 Use Cases
6.1.4.7 Latest FCC Decisions
6.2 Industry Activity - Dynamic Spectrum Alliance
6.3 IEEE Contributions
6.3.1 IEEE 802.11af
6.3.1.1 General: Expectations - White-Fi
6.3.1.2 Differences
6.3.1.3 Benefits
6.3.1.4 Specifics
6.3.1.4.1 Methods
6.3.1.4.2 Main Principles
6.3.1.4.3 PHY
6.3.1.5 Architecture
6.3.1.6 Market
6.3.1.7 Vendors
- Aviacomm
- Carlson Wireless
6.3.1.8 White Space Alliance
7.0 802.11ah (Wi-Fi HaLow)
7.1 General
7.2 Goal and Schedule
7.3 Attributes
7.4 Use Cases
7.5 PHY
7.5.1 Bandwidth
7.5.2 Channelization
7.5.3 Transmission Modes and MIMO
7.6 MAC Layer
7.7 Summary
7.8 Vendors
- Aviacomm- Newracom
- Morse Micro
- Orca
- Silex
8.0 IEEE 802.11p
8.1 General
8.2 Objectives and Status
8.3 IEEE 802.11p - Major Features
8.4 ETSI ITS-G5 - Major Features
8.5 ASTM Contributions
8.6 Industry
- Autotalks
- Commsignia
- Cohda Wireless
- Kapsch
- NXP
- Qorvo
9.0 Wi-Fi Direct
9.1 Overview
9.2 Major Properties
10.0 Wi-Fi Aware
11.0 P802.11az
11.1 General
11.2 Details
11.3 Benefits
12.0 P802.11be (Wi-Fi 7)
12.1 Background
12.2 Scope
12.3 Schedule
12.4 Candidate Features
12.5 First demonstration
13.0 P802.11bd
13.1 Title
13.2 Preliminary Schedule
13.3 Scope
13.4 Demand for Project
13.4.1 Current situation
13.4.2 Enhanced DSRC
13.4.3 PHY and MAC Summary
14.0 P802.11bb
14.1 General
14.2 Time Frame
14.3 Scope
15.0 Conclusions
- Attachment I: 802.11ah - related Patents Survey (2018-2023)
- Attachment II: 802.11ad - related Patents Survey (2018-2023)
- Attachment III: 802.11ax - related Patents Survey (2018-2023)
- Attachment IV: 802.11ay - related Patents Survey (2018-2023)
- Attachment V: 802.11af - related Patents Survey (2018-2023)
- Attachment VI: 802.11p - related Patents Survey (2018-2023)
List of Figures
Figure 1: OSI and 802.11
Figure 2: 802.11n MAC
Figure 3: 802.11 Protocol Family MAC Frame Structure
Figure 4: Estimate: Global Sales - 802.11n Chipsets ($B)
Figure 5: Estimate: Global Sales - 802.11n Chipsets (Bil. Units)
Figure 6: 802.11n Market Geography
Figure 7: Channel Assignment
Figure 8: MU-MIMO (DL)
Figure 9: 802.11n vs. 802.11ac
Figure 10: Estimate - Global Sales - 802.11ac Chipsets ($B)
Figure 11: Estimate - Global Sales - 802.11ac Chipsets (Bil. Units)
Figure 12: Estimate - Global Sales - 802.11 6/6E Chipsets ($B)
Figure 13: Estimate - Global Sales - 802.11 6/6E (Bil. Units)
Figure 14: 60 GHz Connections
Figure 15: 60 GHz Band - Frequencies Plan
Figure 16: Signal Attenuation in 60 GHz Band
Figure 17: Absorption Details
Figure 18: Bands Features Comparison
Figure 19: 802.11ad MAC
Figure 20: Estimate: 60 GHz Wi-Fi Chipsets Sales - Global (Bil. Units)
Figure 21: Estimate: 60 GHz Wi-Fi Chipsets Sales - Global ($B)
Figure 22: Designated Channels
Figure 23: 802.11af Network Setup
Figure 24: Comparison
Figure 25: Standardized Frequency Spectrum (sub-1 GHz)
Figure 26: 802.11ah - Channelization Plan in U.S.
Figure 27: Wave Protocol Suite
Figure 28: Wave Applications and Channel Assignment
Figure 29: Preliminary Work Schedule - 802.11be
List of Tables
Table 1: 802.11b Major Characteristics
Table 2: Frequencies: 802.11b Channels (GHz)
Table 3: 802.11a Modulation
Table 4: 802.11g Characteristics
Table 5: 802.11 Standards Characteristics - Draft 1.0
Table 6: 802.11n PHY Characteristics
Table 7: Comparison: 802.11 Family Members - Transfer Rates
Table 8: 802.11n Enhancements
Table 9: 802.11n Benefits
Table 10: Comparative Characteristics - 802.11n and 802.11ac
Table 11: 802.11ac Characteristics
Table 12: Rates
Table 13: Usage Models
Table 14: Clients Scenarios
Table 15: PHY Features
Table 16: 802.11ac Waves
Table 17: Characteristics - 802.11ac vs 802.11ax
Table 18: 60 GHz Short-reach Radio Standardization
Table 19: Directivity: Beam Width for 1-foot antennas
Table 20: 60 GHz Links Characteristics
Table 21: 802.11ad Major Features
Table 22: PHY-802.11ad
Table 23: Use Cases - 802.11ad
Table 24: Time Schedule
Table 25: 60 GHz Wi-Fi Usage Cases
Table 26: TV Channels (U.S.)
Table 27: IEEE WS-related Standards
Table 28: 802.11ah Features Summary
Table 29: Modulation
Table 30: ETSI G5 Channels
Table 31: 802.11be Features
Samples
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Companies Mentioned
- Aruba
- Asus
- Autotalks
- Aviacomm
- Blu Wireless
- Broadcom
- Buffalo
- Cambium Networks
- Carlson Wireless
- Cisco (APs)
- Cohda Wireless
- Commsignia
- D-Link
- Extreme Networks
- Huawei
- Huawei
- IgniteNet
- Intel
- Intel
- Kapsch
- Lattice
- Linksys
- Marvell
- MediaTek
- Morse Micro
- NXP
- Netgear
- Orca
- Peraso
- Qorvo
- Qualcomm
- Quantenna
- Redpine Signals
- Silex
- TP-Link
- Tensorcom
- ZyXel (AP, Router, WUSB)
Methodology
Considerable research was done using the Internet. Information from various Web sites was studied and analyzed; evaluation of publicly available marketing and technical publications was conducted.
Telephone conversations and interviews were held with industry analysts, technical experts and executives. In addition to these interviews and primary research, secondary sources were used to develop a more complete mosaic of the market landscape, including industry and trade publications, conferences and seminars.
The overriding objective throughout the work has been to provide valid and relevant information. This has led to a continual review and update of the information content.
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