Enabling the Mesh of Pervasive Connectivity
In addition, like all access technologies, Wi-Fi specifications are constantly evolving. The latest standard, 802.11ac, enables very high bandwidth in the 5Ghz spectrum, leverages baked in interference management and rejection advancements, and can simultaneously stream HD video to multiple clients in a single home, office, restaurant, or similar location. For these reasons, “Wi-Fi is totally embraced by operators,” says Terve.
It's no wonder, then, that we see major telecommunications equipment manufacturers jumping on the Wi-Fi opportunity. At Mobile World Congress this year, there was significant buzz around Wi-Fi . Alcatel-Lucent made headlines by integrating Wi-Fi into base stations and small cells, some of which have already been deployed by Telefonica. Wim Sweldens, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s Wireless division, said in a statement that by adding Wi-Fi to their lightRadio modules, “service providers will be able to build closer relationships with their customers by delivering seamless high-speed broadband connections, wherever they are, using LTE and Wi-Fi networks. For subscribers, this approach provides the peace of mind they want when accessing the Internet wherever they go.”
Adding their stamp of approval, Ericsson, the largest mobile infrastructure maker in the world, purchased BelAir networks and added Wi-Fi into it's integrated network offering. Similarly, Cisco maintains a robust Carrier-Grade Wi-Fi solution with numerous deployments.
Small Cells
As mobile operators race to meet skyrocketing demands in densely populated and hard-to-service areas, small cells have risen to the challenge and provide another crucial piece of the connectivity mesh. Small cells are just diminutive macro cells, pint-sized radio access nodes that can be installed, positioned, and operated in less time and for less cost than their bigger brothers. The inherent self-organizing and self-management capabilities of small cells grant them distinction from femtocells and picocells.
