Wireless Networks

NFC Forum Takes on Wireless Charging

Thu, 07 May 2020 09:25:50 +0000

The NFC Forum, the organisation behind Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, approves and a Wireless Charging specification (WLC) allowing charging through the wireless standard.

The the WLC users will be able to wirelessly charge small, battery-powered consumer and IoT devices at a power transfer rate of up to 1W, all using a single antenna in an NFC-enabled device. Such devices will still be able to communicate using the same antenna, and the solution should make it easier to charge low-power devices such as wearables and digital pens.

Intel, Mediatek Partner in PC 5G Modems

Thu, 28 Nov 2019 16:49:16 +0000

As 5G starts to hit the mainstream Intel partners with MediaTek in the development, certification and support of PC modem solutions able to handle this next generation of wireless connectivity.

The partnership has MediaTek develop and produce a 5G modem based on an Intel solution specification. In addition, Intel will also provide optimisation and validation across the platform, and lend system integration and co-engineering support to further enable OEM partners.

“5G is poised to unleash a new level of computing and connectivity that will transform the way we interact with the world," Chipzilla says. "This partnership with MediaTek brings together industry leaders with deep engineering, system integration and connectivity expertise to deliver 5G experiences on the next generation of the world’s best PCs.”

A Wifi 6 Desktop Card from Asus

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 11:50:47 +0000

Asus brings potentially faster wireless connectivity to desktop PCs with the PCE-AX3000, a PCIe 3.0 x1 expansion card with Wifi 6 capability, allowing for data transfer rates of up to 2.4GBps.

The card is an adapter carrying an M.2-2230 Wifi 6 card. It supports all features of the Wifi 6 specification, including 2.4 and 5GHz bands, 80 and 160MHz channels, MU-MIMO, OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access) and WPA3. It also supports Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity with all manner of mobile devices and peripherals

SnapAV Adds RT-3100 Pakedge Router

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 09:56:36 +0000

SnapAV announces an addition to the Pakedge networking line-- the RT-3100, a gigabit router designed to offer network performance, reliability and security for small business customers.

The RT-3100 delivers gigabit WAN-to-LAN throughput, customisable firewall settings, streamlined configuration and built-in BakPak remote monitoring for connected devices. The throughput provides solid performance for the growing number of bandwidth-hungry smart devices in homes and offices, while customisable VLAN and policy management enables more granular network traffic control, including traffic management between VLANs down to the individual device level.

Wifi 6 Certification Starts

Wed, 18 Sep 2019 15:59:52 +0000

The Wifi Alliance kicks off the Wifi Certified 6 program-- the certification program verifying the interoperability of IEEE 802.11ax devices, ensuring they work well together while pushing the performance and security capabilities of the standard.

In case one needs a refresher, Wifi 6 (aka 802.11ax) promises to allow many more devices to use the same wifi channels and frequencies within the same area, without causing as much congestion and lag as Wifi 5 (aka 802.11ac) or Wifi 4 (802.11n). The standard also mandates support for the WPA3 encryption and authentication protocol, allowing for more robust security over WPA2 through the use of Simultaneous Authentication of Equals (SAE).

The Netgear Cloud-Configurable Mesh Network

Fri, 13 Sep 2019 12:48:22 +0000

Netgear announces additions to the Insight management solution, including a 4-port integrated gigabit ethernet switch wifi mesh access point, a 10-port gigabit switch with greater PoE capacity and an Instant Captive Portal for all Insight-managed wireless products.

“Insight cloud management solution, now in its 3rd year, has proven to be a powerful tool for small businesses to manage their networks remotely or for managed service providers to better keep tabs on the health of their client networks,” the company says. “The Insight platform offers support for 22 different switches, access points and security devices managed by way of a free mobile application accessible on both iOS and Android as well as multi-customer desktop solutions for service providers.”

Qualcomm Prepares for Wifi 6

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 15:43:26 +0000

Qualcomm celebrates a "Wifi 6 Day" with the launch of four platforms handling the wireless standard, together with an "end-to-end vision and differentiated technology approach that is designed to help expand the global impact of Wifi 6."

“Qualcomm Technologies has been at the leading edge of wireless innovation for decades, by virtue of our focused investment in research and development across various industries,” the company continues. “Today’s event and announcements represent a critical milestone in unlocking the massive potential of Wi-Fi 6 across every product segment we touch, and blazes a path toward the fullest implementation of Wifi 6 technology.”

Gartner: Global 5G Infrastructure Revenues on the Up

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 15:37:36 +0000

According to Gartner, global 5G wireless network revenues will reach $42 billion in 2020, an 89% increase from 2019 revenues of $2.2bn, as 5G service launch in major cities across the world.

In addition, 5G New Radio (NR) network infrastructure will account for 12% of total wireless infrastructure revenues of communication service providers (CSPs) in 2020, an increase from the 6% seen in 2019.

“5G wireless network infrastructure revenue will nearly double between 2019 and 2020,” the analyst says. “For 5G deployments in 2019, CSPs are using non-stand-alone technology. This enables them to introduce 5G services that run more quickly, as 5G NR equipment can be rolled out alongside existing 4G core network infrastructure.”

Luxul Ships XWC-2000 Wireless Controller

Fri, 16 Aug 2019 13:53:45 +0000

Luxul releases the next generation to the flagship XWC-1000 wireless controller-- the XWC-2000, an upgrade featuring Luxul roam assist technology for active roaming of mobile client devices and deployment of up to 32 wireless access points (AP).

In wireless networks utlising more than one wireless AP, roam assist technology ensures mobile devices are always connected to the best AP for the highest performance. As a result, users can move freely throughout the space without the frustration of intermittent connections and slow wifi speeds.

ZigBee Alliance Sets Eyes on Interoperability

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 16:04:31 +0000

The ZigBee Alliance announces what it describes as a "major ongoing initiative" in making smart home and IoT products easier to develop, deploy and sell across ecosystems-- the All Hubs Initiative.

Driving the initiative are some of the biggest names in the industry, including Amazon, Comcast, Exegin, Kwikset, Landis+Gyr, LEEDARSON, Legrand, MMB Networks, NXP, OSRAM, Samsung SmartThings, Schneider Electric, Silicon Labs, Somfy and ubisys, among others. The goal, according to the Alliance, is to improve interoperability between IoT device and major consumer and commercial platforms.