Can Wi-Fi and 6G networks exist harmoniously - even in an integrated manner?
Previous efforts to bring together Wi-Fi and cellular standards haven’t always ended well, but perhaps 6G can be different. By Adlane Fellah.
6G emerges in a context where 5G has not fully lived up to its promises for mobile network operators. Despite advances in speed, low latency, and capacity, 5G has struggled to generate strong monetization and return on investment (ROI). Many anticipated revenue streams from smart cities, autonomous vehicles, and industrial automation have either been slow to materialize or have faced adoption challenges.
Given these unmet expectations, operators are cautious about large-scale investments in 6G until more evident business models and proven use cases emerge. This context underscores the importance of developing sustainable, converged network solutions that optimize existing infrastructure while enabling collaboration between technologies like WiFi and 6G.
USAGE TRENDS
According to the Ericsson 2024 mobility report, the rapid growth in 5G subscriptions, projected to reach 6.3 billion by 2030, underscores the evolving landscape of mobile networks. By 2027, 5G will overtake 4G globally, with 80% of mobile data traffic expected to run on 5G. Ericsson’s analysis hints at early market penetration for 6G technologies shortly thereafter. Fixed wireless access (FWA) is also a critical component of future network infrastructure, with data-intensive services driving network densification and new deployment models.
Additionally, OpenSignal data highlights WiFi’s significant role in smartphone data consumption in the U.S. WiFi accounts for a substantial majority of data usage in many cases, with trends varying across different operators. This reliance on WiFi confirms its importance in managing network load and providing localised, high-speed connectivity, especially in indoor environments. These usage trends provide the backdrop for understanding how the next-generation wireless ecosystem will unfold.
WHAT IS 6G?
6G, anticipated around 2030, represents the industry’s next attempt to standardize a set of requirements and technologies to meet future use cases. It aims to achieve ultra-high speeds exceeding 1 Tbps and ultra-low latency in the microsecond range, set new parameters in energy efficiency, reliability and robustness. It will also target new frequencies, perhaps including those int the sub terahertz and THz range.
Emerging use cases envisioned include holographic communication, real-time digital twins, intelligent automation for healthcare, smart cities, and autonomous vehicles. For 6G, ubiquitous connectivity is almost a use case in itself, with deterministic connectivity being provided according to the application demand.
6G will prioritize this seamless connectivity by integrating existing networks to meet these ambitious targets. Core technological and business strategies will shape how effectively 6G fulfils these demands - in particular the future role of Wi-Fi.
THE ROLE OF WIFI IN 6G
WiFi continues to dominate as the preferred indoor and enterprise connectivity protocol due to its cost efficiency, flexibility, and broad device compatibility. Wi-Fi also remains the primary wireless protocol for the majority of consumer electronics. While many cellular advocates believe that 5G will come to play a more significant role in consumer electronics, via approaches like 5G Broadcast, it seems more likely that this form of cellular-Wi-Fi convergence will take place in the 6G era.
To this end, 6G will need a low-cost radio suitable for the cheapest devices. 5G currently lacks this, although it has improved with the arrival of 5G RedCap (Reduced Capability). However, RedCap is still noticeably more expensive than 4G implementations. Over time, this should be less of a problem, but Wi-Fi still benefits from lower bills of material costs here, with billions of devices produced yearly with Wi- Fi embedded.
The role of Wi-Fi will also be shaped by how key stakeholders, such as influential industry associations, envision its purpose in a 6G world. The Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) issued a 6G vision statement that highlights how WiFi will play a vital role in complementing and enhancing these advancements in several ways:
· SPECTRUM UTILISATION:
While 6G explores terahertz bands, WiFi’s expansion focuses on the 6 GHz and 10 GHz ranges, with future standards potentially integrating higher frequencies for enhanced throughput. Efficient spectrum management will be key to minimizing interference and optimizing performance across both technologies.
· INTEGRATION WITH CELLULAR:
The WBA envisions tighter collaboration between WiFi and cellular technologies. This includes native support for SIM-based authentication and improved policy coordination between networks. In practice, this integration allows users to seamlessly roam between WiFi and 6G networks, enhancing reliability and user experience.
· COST AND ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
Network operators can reduce both capital and operational expenses by offloading traffic to WiFi where feasible. For instance, dense urban environments often require extensive infrastructure to maintain cellular coverage. By utilizing WiFi for indoor traffic, operators can optimize network resources and reduce energy consumption, aligning with sustainability goals.
WiFi is also expected to be critical in edge computing and localized data processing. By leveraging WiFi access points as part of a distributed network architecture, operators can improve latency and performance for applications that require real-time data analysis, such as augmented reality (AR) and autonomous systems.
LESSONS FROM THE PAST
A key lesson from previous generations of wireless technology, including 4G and 5G, is that without complete buy-in from operators and the device ecosystem, solutions designed to provide seamless connectivity fail to gain traction. Technologies such as Access Network Discovery and Selection Function (ANDSF) and Access Traffic Steering, Switching, and Splitting (ATSSS) are examples of innovations that have struggled due to insufficient ecosystem support and limited go-to-market initiatives.
These challenges were exacerbated by a lack of readily available, compatible equipment. Moving forward, the success of 6G will require addressing these shortcomings through stronger industry collaboration and a more explicit alignment of technical standards with practical deployment needs. In other words, 6G must avoid the mistakes of 5G, where use cases and product features were pushed without business models to support them, stalling actual developments.
As a reminder, ANDSF was introduced in LTE networks to help devices discover and select the most optimal access network based on predefined policies. The technology was intended to guide mobile devices in choosing between available networks (such as LTE, WiFi, or other non-3GPP access points) depending on signal strength, load, and network type.
In turn, ATSSS is a feature developed for 5G to allow devices to use multiple network connections simultaneously or switch between them. It supports functions such as steering traffic between networks (e.g., shifting traffic from a congested 5G network to a nearby WiFi network), splitting traffic across networks for higher reliability and performance, or switching seamlessly between networks to maintain session continuity. The ATSSS concept was initially tested in 2019 by KT Corporation, in partnership with Tessares, within its commercial 5G network. The trials focused on reducing initial session setup times to achieve ultra-low latency in a multi-radio context, resulting in
setup delays less than half of previous approaches. At MWC 2024, Deutsche Telekom successfully completed the world’s first multi-vendor proof-of-concept for the 3GPP ATSSS standard, using core network software from Mavenir. This demonstration showcased multi-access connectivity with seamless handovers between cellular and Wi-Fi networks, applicable to various B2B and B2C use cases.
Brunot Tomas, CTO at the WBA confirmed, “Over the years, we have been tracking ATSS, but publicly only saw this demo. According to the membership and our requests for trials/PoC with any ATSSS equipment, there have not been readily available solutions up until now. This might evolve as the topic has been discussed more proactively recently.”
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