The technology revolution that gripped UAE and made it one of the leading IT markets in the Middle East is spilling over into the consumer space. With one of the highest smartphone penetrations in the world, pegged at 74% by a recent Google study, and with growing demand for internet access on these devices, both at home and in corporate environments, wireless networks in the country are running out of capacity fast.
Wi-Fi, the primary mode of access to high-speed internet for most mobile users, has transformed the way in which users interact with their devices. Businesses in the UAE are beginning to realise the potential for Wi-Fi as a platform for innovation – helping them transform the workplace, deliver new services and thus grow their revenues. High-speed networks are now required by all sizes and types of businesses, from SMBs to large enterprises and even government and public sector offices.
Ammar Enaya, Regional Director at Aruba Networks Middle East & Turkey says that older 802.11n wireless enterprise networks are however not capable of meeting user expectations. The number of wireless devices is exploding in the enterprise with 3 devices per person on an average. Luckily, the next generation of enterprise Wi-Fi has arrived. The 802.11ac standard provides better signal and coverage for lower cost than its predecessors. In enterprise networks, the higher rates and increased capacity of 802.11ac will break down the last remaining barriers to the all-wireless office. There should be enough capacity in an 802.11ac WLAN for users to see equivalent performance to wired Ethernet.
While the advantages of 802.11ac are evident, its uptake in UAE still lags behind the global average. One of the key factors keeping IT decision makers in the country on the fence is that the advancements and features offered by the 802.11ac standard will come in multiple waves. Currently there are Wave 1 products available and most of the industry is expecting Wave 2 products to start showing up in 2015. But waiting for Wave 2 products to emerge could seriously hamper businesses today. A simple answer to the question, “Why not just wait for Wave 2 products in late 2015?” is that Wave 1 802.11ac products offer features that solve huge problems that organizations face today.
