Welcome to Plume IQ - our reveal of data-driven intelligence and consumer insights from 3 billion connected devices and 60 million locations, managed by Plume’s cloud platform. The data below is from a sample of our locations gathered last year.
Changing Channels: WiFi 7 and the Battle Against Network Noise
Plume IQ has previously examined the increasing number of neighboring WiFi networks - these are the number of other networks that can interfere when communicating with devices - and their growth over time. We are returning to the subject this month to cover two aspects of this topic — firstly, that neighboring networks continue to increase and, how this will be impacted by the roll out of WiFi 7.
The increase in neighboring networks and interference means that there is competition in the air from signals resulting in a greater likelihood of diminished quality of experience and performance of your network connection.
Gateways, extenders, and devices all compete for space and when an important video call is dropped or a streaming show is interrupted there is understandable frustration for the end user.
Between 2022 and 2023, neighboring networks detected by Plume grew by 9.68%. Plume locations in the U.S. have an average of 31 neighboring networks. In Europe, there’s an average of 26, and in Japan there are 32 average neighboring networks fighting for air space. These competing signals can come from other WiFi networks, hotspots, or even radar signals in the DFS frequency band. Some are permanent (like your neighbor’s network) and others can be temporary such as radar emissions.
Recently, we have seen WiFi 7 emerge with multiple enhancements that promise faster speeds, lower latencies and reduced interference. Among these new features, three of them deserve closer attention: wider channels, Preamble Puncturing, and Multi-Link Operation (MLO).
With wider channels, WiFi 7 can use 320MHz wide channels, twice the width used by WiFi 6. With these new wide channels, the theoretical speed doubles compared to WiFi 6 or even WiFi 6E. But, this theoretical speed only applies to 6GHz bands, as there isn’t a 320Mhz contiguous band on 5GHz, so the lack of extra width won’t help reduce interference. Even with 6GHz, Europe only has one 320MHz wide channel, which may actually result in increased interference if there are neighboring networks all transmitting in 6GHz.
Preamble Puncturing is now a mandatory feature in WiFi 7 having started as an optional feature in WiFi 6. It allows the access point and the device to carve out a slice of a channel when there is narrowband interference, and to continue use of the wider channel. This feature should prove to reduce latency and increase throughput thanks to wider channels when properly used. However, wider channels may also increase interference because there are fewer of them, so devices could potentially pile into the same channels. Being able to anticipate and predict interference must be part of the solution so that devices can be moved to other channels preemptively to lessen the impact of puncturing.
Lastly, the star feature of the show, Multi-Link Operation allows any device to transmit simultaneously in multiple frequencies, typically 5GHz and 6GHz. The advantage of this is clear - any device using multiple frequencies at once will have its throughput increased, latency reduced, and even have a redundant channel without the need for reconnection.
The main problem is that previously in WiFi 6 a multi-access point scenario (i.e, mesh) allowed devices to take advantage of channel diversity, now when MLO is active - if used in isolation - it may result in front hauls and backhauls within the same channel, creating a situation where competing channels now generate an increase of interference in their network. The key to implementing MLO properly is to allow for the entire network to be managed cohesively so that one device is not allowed to diminish the experience of other devices on the network.
Balancing when and how to use features like MLO and puncturing will be essential to deal with interference properly and ensure the best possible quality of experience for users.
Upgrades that enable higher throughput and lower latency should not come at a cost. New technologies should be adopted so that they do not lead to increased interference, higher congestion, and less sophisticated band utilization. Plume comprehensively manages entire networks and deploys intelligent WiFi optimization to correctly implement new technologies like those in WiFi 7. Around the world, Plume’s 60 million networks are primed to benefit from these advancements and consistently deliver an optimal customer experience.
As Plume IQ data continues to monitor trends in network performance, these learnings help to inform both our product strategy and our ability to better serve our global communication service providers and partners.
net+
Plume partner, net+, recently announced that they have chosen Plume and WorkPass to serve their SMB customers in Switzerland.
Plume WorkPass was selected as the premier small business solution partner to provide operational insights and information along with powerful front-end services, including adaptive WiFi, without the cost or complexity of enterprise offerings. WorkPass is an enterprise-grade productivity and connectivity solution that is easy to understand and simple to use - allowing business owners to focus on their daily operations.
“We considered several options for our SMB customers and ultimately chose Plume WorkPass from BN AG, a Plume Swiss partner. The solution is simple and can be installed and operated without any technical know-how. In addition, it is attractively priced especially compared to other business solutions, which makes it very attractive for small businesses,” says Christian Voide, CEO at netplus.ch SA.
WorkPass Overview Webinar
Learn what’s new with WorkPass and how CSPs are using the technology to drive results. Our recent WorkPass Overview Webinar, features special guest Emma Fox, Director of Business Solution at Midco.
Wi-Fi World Congress 2024
Attending this year’s Wi-Fi World Congress in Sarasota, Florida? Plume’s Tony Liebel will be discussing technology designed specifically for multi-dwelling units (MDUs) and the challenges faced by property managers including internet service, security and tenant experience. Tony Liebel will be speaking on Tuesday, April 23 at 1:30 pmET. Agenda is here.
Book a meeting with Plume at Wi-Fi World Congress 2024
News Roundup
“Palo Alto-based Plume Design, a pioneer in SaaS experience platforms for communication service providers (CSPs), inaugurated its first office in Hyderabad, India. With over 500 employees catering to over 400 CSPs worldwide, this marks Plume’s tenth global office and its first in India. The decision to establish a presence in Hyderabad aligns with Plume’s strategic partnership with Reliance Jio to serve over 200 million Indian households. Recognising India’s vibrant business landscape and skilled talent pool, Plume views the country as a hub for software development excellence. The Hyderabad office will complement existing teams, concentrating on software engineering roles spanning cloud, AI, web development, and information security.”
More from Analytics India Magazine
“Plume is mostly known for its home broadband customer experience platform – which includes Cloud-based Wi-Fi optimisation – but the company also provides a similar platform optimised for small businesses called ‘WorkPass’. Today Plume announced that Swiss operator net+ has selected WorkPass to power its ‘WiFiBusiness’ services aimed at small and medium-sized businesses in the region.”
“Adrian Fitzgerald, Chief Revenue Officer at Plume, said, “WorkPass brings networking and data solutions previously only available to enterprise clients to SMBs and this is a game changer. Café de la Place is a perfect example of providing connectivity as part of the customer experience. Small business owners have increasing demands and technology shouldn’t be a burden. At the same time, they are well aware that customers demand a premium experience no matter where they are — Plume delivers all of that — seamlessly.”
“Swiss service provider Net+ has introduced WIFIBusiness to offer local connectivity to small and medium-sized businesses. The service uses Plume WorkPass to optimise network capacity. Plume WorkPass provides operational insights and information on network quality, and front-end services, including adaptive Wi-Fi.”
#PlumeStrong
Get to know: Tadej Pogačar
World champion cyclist Tadej Pogačar will be riding with the #PlumeStrong team for two days in September during the #PlumeStrong Cycling Challenge. Pogačar won the Tour de France in 2020 and 2021 and most recently dominated the Strade Bianche and Volta a Catalunya races.
Listen to Tadej Pogačar recap last year’s #PSCC with Plume’s CEO Fahri Diner here.
For more information about how to participate in or sponsor #PSCC24 please visit plumestrong.plume.com.