When it comes to mobile data connectivity, the current peak is 4G, while the step is more than likely, 5G. However, 4G is no match for Wi-Fi in its current form, and with the next step in Wi-Fi technology, 5G won't be able to compete.
While Wi-Fi is much faster than current generation cellular network technology, the range at which data can travel between devices is still a huge problem. This is where cellular network technology continues to have an edge, and that's not going to change anytime soon. However, with 10G Wi-Fi technology in the pipeline, users should expect an increase in range along with an increase in speed.
According to Quantenna Communications, the new Wi-Fi technology should support up to 10Gbps in terms of data transfer speed. That's a huge improvement over what is available right now, and an improvement on a greater scale when compared to what 4G wireless technology is capable of delivering to users.
"Quantenna's 8×8 architecture with adaptive beamforming demonstrates that the 'massive MIMO' promise of significantly higher throughput, robustness, and reduced interference can be realized in practice," said Andrea Goldsmith, electrical engineering professor at Stanford, of Quantenna's new technology. "This architecture will also significantly enhance the capabilities of MU-MIMO, allowing it to support interference-free transmission to many more devices simultaneously. These technology advances will transform the landscape of applications and devices that Wi-Fi can support. As we move into an era of exponentially-growing video usage and the Internet of Things, the 8×8 architecture and MU-MIMO technologies will become essential in all high-performance Wi-Fi devices."
It is possible this technology will see the light of day in 2015, as Quantenna Communications have already supplied next generation hardware to the likes of AT&T, Swisscom, DIRECTV, France Telecom, Telefonica, and Belgacom.
With Gigabyte broadband speeds slowly rolling out in the United States, it is clear that consumers will find use for this new and upcoming Wi-Fi standard. For some countries around the world, it might take years before 10G Wi-Fi is worth incorporating, as deploying Gigabyte speeds is expensive, both for the telecom carrier and the consumer.
