How COVID-19 May Change Wireless Communication Infrastructure and Technology Usage

An interesting question to ask as we adjust to new approaches of studying, living and working amid the global pandemic: How will these changes affect us in the long run? Will the habits we’ve had and the new technology we’ve counted on so much over the past few months turn out to be our new norm? Will COVID-19 serve as a key change variable, transforming the way we apply technologies?

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In many aspects, recent technology development is doing more than changing how we work. It helps us adhere to social distancing requirement and stay-at-home orders, keeping non-essential workers at home while those on the frontlines head out daily to help fight against this pandemic. With the progress toward faster speeds, more bandwidth and applications such as videoconferencing, many people enjoy the benefit of getting work done, keeping in touch with family and even keeping food delivered to our house: without having to leave their homes.

This pandemic is also a sign of how reliant we are on connectivity. After spending a few months getting used to telemedicine, distance learning and remote work, it’s likely that demand for these types of services will go up as we move forward. People will continue to demand quality, 24/7 connections – even as we slowly return to normal life after the vaccine is invented in the near future. So what do these shifts mean in terms of the usage these markets apply? There are a few emerging trends that could be fast-tracked as a result of COVID-19 as we look toward tomorrow:

5G and Edge Computing

For example, 5G and edge computing could be key to enhancing speeds and keeping up with high data demands. Instead of relying on large, centralized data centers, moving compute power to the edge and connecting it through 5G could boost throughput to support telemedicine, distance learning and telecommuting. Although every network is different from each other, one thing will hold for networks that support 5G: lots of fiber and bandwidth will be needed to support real-time data collection, unlimited bandwidth and higher transmission capacity. The launch of 5G will bring increased capacity and lower latency straight to networks. Legacy copper-based infrastructures that have supported connectivity so well for so long may not be able to keep up with 5G bandwidth demands.

Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6 may also gain faster momentum amid COVID-19, along with Wi-Fi 6E. Wi-Fi 6E increases the bandwidth available to the full Wi-Fi 6 feature set, creating the next generation of wireless communications and networking found in the 6 GHz band. Wi-Fi 6 improves upon current Wi-Fi specifications and supports higher data rates with peak Gigabit speeds, increased transmission capacity with reduced latency and high performance levels in heavy-duty environments. Trouble-free performance of a Wi-Fi 6 network can only be guaranteed by using a high-performance cabling infrastructure to support it. In the case of Wi-Fi 6, for example, Category 6A cabling is needed for many reasons. It supports data rates up to and including 10GBASE-T for data-intensive applications, is capable of dissipating heat and has improved thermal performance to handle higher cable temperatures.