Shift to 5 GHz Band For Mission-Critical Wi-Fi Networks

Laird Technologies White Papers on 5 GHz Operation

A recent online editorial from Lisa Phifer argues that enterprise Wi-Fi deployments should focus on the 5 GHz band. According to Phifer, the current 2.4 GHz band is so congested with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, and other interferers that it no longer serves its purpose. As a result, many device manufacturers are looking to move to the 5 GHz band to avoid this congestion and thereby realize side benefits such as lower power consumption, a requirement in most new devices.

The editorial suggests that the 5 GHz band should be reserved for mission-critical Wi-Fi networks, leaving the 2.4 GHz band for guest networks and best-effort applications. As the FCC allocates more 5 GHz spectrum to Wi-Fi, increasing the number of Wi-Fi channels to 30 or more, the 5 GHz band becomes even more attractive.

To learn more about operating in the 5 GHz band, read the Laird Technologies White Paper Optimizing Operation at 5 GHz.