11 April 2017
2.4GHz spectrum is reaching its limits for Wi-Fi networking. But despite the availability of 5GHz, many IT administrators still believe switching is complicated, favouring instead a 50:50 network design.
2.4GHz is the original standard from 1997. It provides just three channels and is now congested, causing interference and dropped connections. According to Gartner, there will be more than 20 billion connected devices by 2020.
If 2.4GHz is to support the ever-increasing volume of connected devices, the industry needs to move beyond a technology developed in the era of the cassette player.
While IT admins may not be ready to make the switch, devices are – 90 per cent of phones, laptops, and tablets are already 5GHz-capable. 5GHz offers eight times more capacity and is in reality easier to deploy. It supports far more data, is the only band that can leverage the 802.11ac standard and – with up to 24 channels – is significantly less congested.
While integrating 5GHz into consumer devices has been a no-brainer for vendors, the same cannot be said for the enterprise. Here, many believe that installing dual-radio APs provides enough 5GHz coverage. Others are ‘adapting’ by switching off their 2.4GHz radios. In reality, neither option will work – 5GHz needs a new configuration.
The 50:50 ratio is often deployed where network admins do not have a clear picture of the capability and number of devices accessing the network.
Network management tools tend to display association tables rather than client capabilities, which can mean hosting far more 5GHz clients than expected. This causes 5GHz radios to become oversubscribed, resulting in poor service and dropped connections.
The greatest barrier to 5GHz adoption appears to be more about misconception than technicality. IT admins want their networks to be flexible, but designs need to be adapted to the new generation of users.
Choosing the right Wi-Fi network requires a carefully thought-out strategy. 2.4GHz is not going away all together, but it was not created to support the volume enabled by today’s ubiquitous Wi-Fi connectivity.
IT admins need to ask whether the evolving demands of the network warrant giving the 2.4GHz band 50 per cent of the AP radios. Can it provide the performance required as more devices crowd into this band?
For many businesses the answer to this question is no. Some level of 2.4GHz support is undoubtedly still required. But over time, its limited capacity will make it increasingly inadequate.