New Electronics: The need for bonding and security
By Neil Tyler | New Electronics | May 15, 2019
Despite 5G looming on the horizon, it’s unlikely that Wi-Fi will go away. So the key issue appears to be how to enable a seamless transition between the two.
At the end of March New Electronics looked at the impact 5G could have on Wi-Fi and concluded that, in all likelihood, the two technologies would continue to co-exist.
According to market research, smartphone users continue to spend around 70% of their time on wi-fi networks, so the real issue around these two technologies is how users will move from Wi-Fi onto cellular seamlessly avoiding ‘deadzones’ or suffering from time lags.
“Mobolize has developed on-device data management software that significantly improves the mobile data experience,” explains JP Brocket, the company’s Senior Director of Product Management.
Mobolize’s solution is deployed on millions of Android and iOS smartphones and it cuts across the entire mobile landscape from consumers and applications to operators.
“The big issue for consumers is connectivity – if you can’t provide that, operators will see increased churn, so eliminating this is crucial,” explains Brocket. “Operators want to avoid disruption and provide more differentiated services.”
The problem of connectivity will only get worse with the arrival of 5G and Wi-Fi 6. While more devices will enjoy greater levels of connectivity additional problems will be created, such as device security, power management and throughput latency.
“While 5G, for example, will enable the delivery of new services, these will be more demanding of the operators when it comes to connectivity,” says Brocket. “5G and Wi-Fi will need to be complimentary because consumers will want their devices to work, whatever path the device takes. It’s highly likely we’ll see congestion as services transition between Wi-Fi and cellular.
“The industry has to contend with two distinct radio and backhaul systems with differing governing bodies. These are duel path problems and, to date, little has been done to achieve greater alignment. Consumers and the application developer don’t care about the network – they just want their devices and services to work.”
This is where Mobolize plays a role, by making the device and service work regardless of how it is connected.
“For the consumer there are no ‘deadzones’ using our platform, for the application provider there is a smooth transition between cellular and Wi-Fi providing seamless connectivity.”
