The race for wireless IoT end point connectivity is on between 5G and Wi-Fi 6. While trials for both technologies are underway and in the early stages, over the long haul it is being predicted that end users will implement a mix of both of the wireless networks. The reason for this is that both solutions possess excellent potential to serve the needs of similar use cases. In Wi-Fi 6’s favor right now is the addition of two new powerful IoT-centric capabilities. The article that follows provides a deep dive into the differences and the similarities of the two standards, as well as details of some of the trials involving both of them.
A trade group hopes to show an aerospace plant in the U.K. the advantages of automating operations with the latest Wi-Fi gear. It’s the first of a handful of pilots that it hopes to launch this year in a race with advocates of 5G cellular.
Members of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA) will supply free gear and expertise to Mettis, a 70-year-old maker of parts for commercial and military planes in Worcestershire, England. They aim to demonstrate the benefits on a handful of use cases for automating operations using 802.11ax Wi-Fi, also known as Wi-Fi 6.
A government-backed initiative in the U.K.’s Midlands region plans to sponsor a handful of trials using 5G cellular. For its part, the BWA aims to launch at least four trials around the world using Wi-Fi.
