Wi-Fi News
WiGig will ease Wi-Fi congestion
Everyone knows that the number of devices that are connected to the Internet grows exponentially. According to Data Alliance, the average number of Wi-Fi connected devices per individual is about 1.7 in the US. This means that you may find up to seven Internet-ready devices in the average American home. But it also means that most Wi-Fi channels are quite crowded. Fortunately, a new solution that will fix this problem is on the way.
Named WiGig – not the most suggestive name, if you ask me – the new technology, which has been recently announced by the Wi-Fi Alliance, fixes the problems by using a much higher signal frequency – 60 GHz.
WiGig isn’t a new technology, but it only had a handful of supporters until recently. Still, it has gotten more and more fans as the old 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz bands got more and more crowded. Fortunately, WiGig has another ace up its sleeves: it also makes 8 Gbps transfer speeds possible, at least in theory.
The main problems are backwards compatibility and market adoption speed. And while I’m confident that manufacturers will do their best to ensure 100% compatibility with the older Wi-Fi standards, quick market adoption is way beyond their control.
The Wi-Fi alliance expects this new technology to take off at the beginning of 2017. And with Intel and Qualcomm behind it, chances are that it will actually happen.
Kazakhstan Railways to provides Internet access
Kazakhstan Railways has recently launched a Wi-Fi pilot program. InfiNet Wireless has provided the needed equipment, completing the first step in a complex project that aims to connect all the trains in Kazakhstan to a single network.
Initial trials had trains traveling with speeds of up to 145 mph. Under these circumstances, Wi-Fi speeds reached up to 80 MB per second, and the data transfer speed remained constant both in large outdoor areas and in tunnels.
The project makes use of small wireless devices which are installed on the outside of the train. They also double as video surveillance devices, being connected to a centralized monitoring center.
The Idjwi Congolese island gets Wi-Fi access
A Congolese king has recently approved the construction of a Wi-Fi network on a remote island – the second largest inland island in Africa – for the future benefit of the estimated 200,000 people living there.
It is true that only a few islanders have access to computers now, but things are surely going to change for the better in the near future. Still, the Wi-Fi signal has already been put to good use: Bugarula, the biggest village on the island, sports nine devices that are already connected to the Internet.
Also, an Internet connected display has been installed in the local market, providing whether forecasts, news and messages of public interest for everyone.
Fjord, the company that has provided the needed technology, has initially tested the project in Scotland, because the terrain, wind and rain are similar with the ones on the Congolese island.