2024 is the year of 5G and Wi-Fi 7 technology

In most AI use cases, 5G and Wi-Fi connectivity serve as the backbone, ensuring low latency so the technology can be applied flexibly across all sectors. While the buzz in 2023 will be focused on generative AI, the key to making it work at its best is network quality.

294 commercial 5G networks launched worldwide

In fact, 5G continues to develop rapidly in 2023. With 5G being commercially deployed in many countries around the world, the network has met expectations, providing users with a seamless connectivity experience.

According to data released in December 2023 by the Global Mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), nearly 5 years after Korea deployed the world's first commercial 5G network in April 2019, there are now 294 commercial 5G networks globally and 582 mobile operators investing in 5G networks.

According to the GSA, there are now more than 2,700 5G devices announced, including at least 1,886 commercial 5G devices globally. More than $50 billion has been spent on 5G spectrum auctions and allocations worldwide.

According to a report by OpenSignal, an independent analytics company that specializes in quantifying mobile network experiences, based in the United Kingdom, the countries with the fastest 5G speeds in the world currently include South Korea and Singapore.

The development of 5G also enables more use cases around the world. For example, self-driving cars and robots for security and delivery are increasingly needed, requiring robust network connections with truly low latency to function properly. In Singapore, for example, the use of 5G-powered machines for public use has increased.

At the same time, the adoption of private 5G networks is also increasing. Compared to public 5G networks, private 5G networks allow an organization to have limited access to licensed or unlicensed cellular bands. With similar capabilities to public 5G networks, private 5G networks are often used by manufacturing plants, factories, or even offices that need to have employees work on a dedicated separate network.

For example, in Malaysia, Petronas was the first in the country to deploy a commercial private 5G network at its Regasification Terminal Sungai Udang (RGTSU) LNG condensate plant in Melaka. Petronas said the deployment of the private 5G network has improved operational efficiency and safety, supporting the company’s business and sustainability goals.

This private 5G network is used to connect equipment and systems at the plant, including valves, sensors and gauges. 5G has helped improve operational efficiency, plant safety and network resilience in the event of a fault. Petronas is planning to deploy private 5G networks at its facilities around the world.

5G technology continues to grow strongly in 2024

5G will be a rapidly evolving technology in 2024, with many new applications being deployed around the world. 5G coverage is expected to continue to expand, with many countries and regions achieving nationwide coverage.

In addition, 5G speeds will continue to increase, with carriers offering speeds of up to 10 Gbps. This is fast enough to support advanced applications such as virtual reality and augmented reality. The cost of 5G will continue to decrease, making the technology more accessible to more users.

Some of the new 5G applications expected to be deployed in 2024 include:

Virtual reality and augmented reality:5G will provide the bandwidth and speed needed to support high-quality virtual and augmented reality applications, such as gaming, training, and entertainment.

Remote Operation:5G will enable factories and manufacturing facilities to operate remotely, increasing efficiency and reducing costs.

Telemedicine:5G will allow doctors to diagnose and treat patients remotely, improving access to healthcare.

Self-driving cars:5G will provide the connectivity needed for self-driving cars, making them safer and more efficient.

Ms. Femi Oshiaga, Vice President of Asia Pacific (APAC) and Middle East and North Africa (MEA) of CommScope Infrastructure Provider (USA), said that telecommunications industry reports estimate that there are currently about 1.2 billion mobile Internet users in the APAC region (excluding China) and the number of 5G users in the region is expected to exceed 600 million by 2028. 4G networks continue to be the popular choice of mobile broadband users despite the efforts of mobile operators around the world to deploy 5G networks.

“In 2024, we will see operators focus on new use cases for 5G, with operators increasingly leveraging AI and machine learning (ML) to optimize operations and drive revenue. Easier deployment and wider coverage will also be key as global operator spending and investment slows. Easier deployment will help reduce overall network costs, while wider coverage will enable new applications such as remote operations in remote locations such as oilfields, mining and other heavy industries,” Oshiaga added.

Ms. Oshiaga also pointed out that the path to 5G development will still be challenging as telecommunications businesses think about exploiting profits from existing networks while having to address current challenges such as efforts to fulfill their commitments to sustainability and social responsibility (ESG) and narrowing the digital divide.

5G is a technology that has the potential to change the way we live and work. In 2024, we will see this technology continue to develop and expand its range of applications.

The emergence of Wi-Fi 7 technology is a breakthrough in 2024

5G technology will bring many useful features to users, especially applications that require high speed and low latency. Meanwhile, Wi-Fi technology is still being developed and continuously updated with new versions such as Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 to meet users' increasing needs for data access speed.

Along with 5G, Wi-Fi technology is also expected to see a lot of changes in 2024. While businesses continue to improve their network connectivity with Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 7 is expected to launch in early 2024.

Wi-Fi networks operate on the license-exempt spectrum in bands such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz, which means these bands are unlicensed and completely free, and everyone can have their own Wi-Fi network without having to apply for a license to use it. Wi-Fi network users simply pay an Internet service provider (ISP) to deliver the internet to their home, and then they use a router to spread the Wi-Fi signal throughout their home.

Reports also say that Wi-Fi 7 is expected to offer a theoretical maximum data rate of up to 46 Gbit/s, which is nearly five times faster than Wi-Fi 6 (9.6 Gbps); use 4096-QAM modulation; channel size up to 320 MHz. Wi-Fi 7 also aims to offer 100 times lower latency than Wi-Fi 6, resulting in 15 times better performance when using virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR).

With the advent of Wi-Fi 7, it will take Wi-Fi technology further with superior technical features such as support for higher modulation methods, use of MU-MIMO antennas with more data streams, increased channel size, and support for more bands.

Specifically, for the modulation method, although Wi-Fi 7 will still use orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) modulation technique, it will be improved to be more flexible and efficient with support for 4096-QAM modulation to expand data transmission capabilities.

Along with that, Wi-Fi 7 will use multi-user, multiple-input and multiple-output (MU-MIMO) antenna technology, supporting 16 data streams, up from 8 data streams in Wi-Fi 6. The maximum channel size in Wi-Fi 7 is up to 320 MHz, which is double that in Wi-Fi 6 (160 MHz). This makes Wi-Fi 7 ideal for providing high-speed experiences for Wi-Fi users.

In addition, Wi-Fi 7 also brings more flexibility to businesses as they engage in digital transformation. Wi-Fi 7 and 5G will work together to develop edge computing, distributed and cloud architectures, virtualization and digitization in Private Wireless Networks (PWN). More specifically, Wi-Fi 7 will improve support for applications that require deterministic latency, reliability and high quality of service (QoS).

With superior digital experiences becoming the norm in key industries such as education, hospitality, healthcare, and high-density events, enabling widespread adoption of new network standards and leveraging the full spectrum spectrum available, including the latest 6 GHz spectrum, will help enhance the speed, capacity, and performance of connected experiences in 2024.

Wi-Fi 7 can accommodate applications like seamless streaming and cloud gaming, while enabling real-time social interaction in crowded environments, like concerts or trade shows, thanks to its ability to provide greater capacity and reduced latency.

Wi-Fi will play an increasingly important role as new technologies continue to emerge. Wi-Fi fits most connectivity needs because it is a cost-effective and efficient way to connect users, IoT devices, and other infrastructure, while cellular networks provide superior mobility over long distances and high speeds. Therefore, the convergence of both cellular and Wi-Fi creates a unified platform that seamlessly transitions between technologies, driving innovation, enhancing connectivity, and delivering superior user experiences.

Beyond specific use cases, Wi-Fi 7 will continue to expand Wi-Fi availability and carry most wireless traffic in enterprise, public, and residential environments in a cost-effective manner and further improve the efficiency of scarce spectrum resources.

In short, the combination of 5G and Wi-Fi 7 technology in 2024 will open up breakthroughs in areas such as education, healthcare, hospitality, and more. With faster speeds, larger capacity, and lower latency, the connected world becomes limitless.