Emerging Networking Technologies and Support: What You Need to Know

You’ve probably heard of the term innovation more than you can imagine. Innovation echoes through executive discussions, the hallways, and even virtual meetings. According to 2023 research, 96% of executives believe innovation is essential for their organization's success and growth. Despite this, only 21% have achieved their innovation goals. 

A lack of trust in the data, insufficient bandwidth, limited resources, and challenges in technology modernization all contribute to this gap.

"Many organizations struggle to maximize efficiency and resilience. Some businesses may lack the staff or technical expertise to handle multiple sites and advancements, while others face interference issues in shared office spaces. As a result, they miss out on the functionality of modern solutions."

- Nathan Wierzgac, Director of Sales, WZC Networking

Many organizations expect innovation to be disruptive. In reality, you don't need to pursue every disruptive innovation.

What you need is to harness the right technologies to overcome challenges and achieve long-term success. Here are four emerging technologies you should know about and a brief overview of their advantages to identify what works best for your goals.

Wi-Fi 6E

Wi-Fi 6E extends the Wi-Fi 6 standard to operate in the newly available 6 GHz frequency band. As a result, organizations can benefit from more spectrum, reduced congestion, and enhanced overall performance compared to the traditional 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands.

Here are some notable advantages you can leverage with Wi-Fi 6E:

• Wi-Fi 6E features a 6 GHz band with more non-overlapping channels to reduce interference and congestion, especially in densely populated areas.
• Wi-Fi 6E supports higher data rates and lower latency for high-bandwidth applications such as 4K/8K video streaming, video conferencing, and cloud computing.
• With more spectrum available, Wi-Fi 6E can better handle multiple devices simultaneously for environments with high device density, such as stadiums, airports, and office buildings.

Signals often get lost when too many devices compete for bandwidth on the same wireless channel. As a result, video conferences freeze or disconnect, downloads slow down, and other frustrating interruptions disrupt work.

Wi-Fi 6E expands the available frequency spectrum into the 6 GHz band to address this congestion. Jumping from a 5 GHz band to 6 GHz might not sound like much, but it increases the amount of airwaves available for routers by four times.

Adopting Wi-Fi 6E requires upgrading existing routers, access points, and client devices to support the 6 GHz band. At the same time, your network support team must maintain compatibility and integration of this technology with networks and devices.

5G and Beyond

5G technology delivers robust connectivity with ultra-high-speed internet, low latency, and the capacity to connect many devices simultaneously. There has been modest and continued deployment of 5G across different countries, with the US as one of the leading global markets for 5G availability.

5G service at known operator locations increased from 68.4% in Q3 2023 to 76.7% in Q1 2024. That said, various industries can now achieve faster data speeds and better support for advanced applications such as:

• Autonomous vehicles
• Remote surgeries
• Industrial automation

You can also utilize 5G's low latency and high bandwidth for real-time data processing and improved remote work capabilities.

5G Network Slicing

As 5G continues to roll globally, network slicing lets network engineers create multiple virtual networks within a single 5G infrastructure. Network engineers can tailor each slice to meet specific bandwidth, latency, security, and quality of service (QoS) requirements. Specifically, 5G network slicing allows them to:

• Quickly deploy and adjust network slices for diverse use cases
• Enhance mobile broadband
• Support massive IoT
• Enable ultra-reliable low-latency communications (URLLC)

This flexibility meets the specific demands of each application.

Network slicing lets multiple service types share the same physical infrastructure, cutting the need for dedicated hardware for each service. It also allows multiple virtual networks to run smoothly side by side. This low-latency, high-reliability slice can support remote surgeries.

Implementing this technology offers plenty of advantages, but it also brings challenges, especially during the early stages of implementation. Setting up and managing these slices requires advanced orchestration and automation tools. Your network operator must get different network slices to work seamlessly together while maintaining performance.

It’s important to partner with network engineers who are up-to-date with 5G technology and have the right tools to implement and manage these systems effectively.

Quantum Networking

Experts predict that quantum networking will impact how organizations operate, much like the internet revolutionized computing and society at large. Quantum networks are similar to the classical networks we use daily to transmit and share digital information. The big difference is that quantum networks will use qubits, which encode information in a way that's different from the traditional method.

Building a quantum network will provide virtually unhackable communication channels. These channels are important for sectors with rigorous requirements for data security, like finance, defense, and healthcare. They also offer high-speed data transmission to enhance efficiency and performance across various applications.

The U.S. unveiled its Blueprint for the Quantum Internet in 2020 with a plan to develop the nation's first large-scale quantum networks. This initiative aims to revolutionize communication and computing by leveraging the power of quantum mechanics. Several ongoing efforts globally focus on developing quantum networks outside laboratory settings.

Many believe that we're still years, if not decades, away from fully realizing quantum networks. Similar to the rise of artificial intelligence and other technologies, quantum networks can become a mainstream reality before we realize it.

Scale Your Organization with Cutting-Edge Networking Technologies

There will always be a need for network innovation as long as organizations and clients seek better connectivity. Some technologies endure, while others don’t. Even so, they all pave the way for new opportunities and advancements. Organizations must keep up with the latest developments to stay competitive and capitalize on these opportunities.

WZC Networking provides expert support and real-world solutions to help you maximize the advantages of these emerging technologies. Connect with our team to unlock the full potential of cutting-edge tech and drive your organization forward with confidence.