Technology White Paper For Wi-Fi 6 and 5G and Their Application Scenario

Technology White Paper for Wi-Fi 6 and 5G and
Their Application Scenarios
Huawei Campus Network Marketing Support Module
Version 1.0
Author: Hou Fangming (Alan Hou)
August 2019
Technology White Paper for Wi-Fi 6 and 5G
and Their Application Scenarios Abstract
Abstract
With the advent of the Internet of Everything (IoE) and the cloud era,
establishing mobile networks featuring high bandwidth, low latency, and
ubiquitous connections becomes a priority. Wi-Fi 6 and 5G outperform all other
current technologies and have become crucial for connectivity in this new era
due to their technical advantages.
This document describes the technical features and main application scenarios
of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G, and compares them in terms of spectrum usage, terminal
ecosystem, security, and application scenarios. Through such discussion, this
document aims to make it clear that Wi-Fi 6 and 5G each have their respective
most applicable scenarios where neither can replace the other. As such, they
complement each other, and so selecting the appropriate technology according
to scenario requirements helps enterprises reduce costs, improve efficiency,
and accelerate their digital transformation.
This white paper is comprehensively backed up by Huawei campus network

departments who have performs several rounds of in-depth discussions and
reviews over this paper. We will continue revising and releasing new versions of
this white paper in time based on the feedback from the market and customers
and non-stopping and in-depth researches.
(2019-08-29) Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. i

and Their Application Scenarios Contents
Contents
1 Overview .................................................................................................................................. 1
2 Introduction to Wi-Fi 6 and 5G ......................................................................................... 2

2.1 Overview of Wi-Fi 6.......................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1.1 Introduction to Wi-Fi 6 ................................................................................................................................. 2
2.1.2 Application Scenarios ................................................................................................................................... 4
2.2 Overview of 5G ................................................................................................................................................. 5
2.2.1 Introduction to 5G ......................................................................................................................................... 5
2.2.2 Application Scenarios for 5G Networks .................................................................................................... 7
2.3 Technologies Shared by Wi-Fi 6 and 5G ...................................................................................................... 9
2.3.1 OFDMA Technology ...................................................................................................................................... 9
2.3.2 MU-MIMO and Massive MIMO .................................................................................................................10
2.4 5G-Powered Huawei Wi-Fi 6 ......................................................................................................................... 11
2.4.1 5G-Powered Huawei Wi-Fi 6 — Smart Antenna Technology ............................................................... 11
2.4.2 5G-Powered Huawei Wi-Fi Intelligent Radio Calibration Technology — SmartRadio.....................12
2.4.3 5G-Powered Wi-Fi 6 Application Acceleration Technology — Dynamic Turbo ................................13
2.4.4 5G-Powered Wi-Fi 6 Lossless Roaming Technology ..............................................................................14
3 Comparison Between Wi-Fi 6 and 5G ........................................................................... 15

3.1 Spectrum Usage ..............................................................................................................................................15
3.1.1 Wi-Fi Spectrum .............................................................................................................................................15
3.1.2 5G Spectrum ..................................................................................................................................................16
3.2 Terminal Ecosystem .........................................................................................................................................17
3.3 Network Stability and Flexibility ...................................................................................................................18
3.4 Security ..............................................................................................................................................................20
3.4.1 Wi-Fi Security Overview ..............................................................................................................................20
(2019-08-29) Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ii

and Their Application Scenarios Contents
3.4.2 WPA3 Makes Wi-Fi 6 More Secure ............................................................................................................22
3.4.3 5G Security .....................................................................................................................................................24
3.4.4 Phishing APs and Rogue Base Stations ....................................................................................................25
3.4.5 Wi-Fi 6 and 5G Security Comparison ........................................................................................................27
3.5 Typical Application Scenario Comparison Between Wi-Fi 6 and 5G......................................................29
3.5.1 Outdoor Coverage........................................................................................................................................29
3.5.2 Indoor High-Density Coverage ..................................................................................................................30
3.5.3 VR/AR Requiring High Bandwidth.............................................................................................................31
3.5.4 Industrial Production and Manufacturing................................................................................................33
3.5.5 Multi-Branch Scenario .................................................................................................................................35
3.5.6 Indoor IoT Scenario ......................................................................................................................................37
4 Summary ................................................................................................................................ 38
4.1 Comparison Summary Between Wi-Fi 6 and 5G .......................................................................................38
4.2 Application Scenario Comparison Summary .............................................................................................39
A Acronyms and Abbreviations ......................................................................................... 42
(2019-08-29) Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. iii

and Their Application Scenarios 1 Overview
1 Overview
As we enter a new world where everything is connected, networks lay the

foundation that enables flexibility and seamless integration of various data
flows. Wi-Fi and mobile communication, as two important communications
technologies used in IoT, strive to ensure full connectivity between people,
between things, and between people and things, anytime and anywhere. Of
these two communications technologies, Wi-Fi mainly offers indoor coverage,
with cellular networks offering mainly outdoor coverage. Featuring open
frequency spectrum, strong compatibility, and easy deployment, Wi-Fi has long
been a major technology for transmitting massive amounts of indoor data
traffic, such as downloading and watching high definition (HD) videos. In
contrast, cellular networks provide wide coverage to transmit voice and
outdoor data traffic. We are now on the verge of a major transformation for
Wi-Fi and cellular networks.
The fifth generation of mobile communications technology (5G) and Wi-Fi 6

represent the main direction of future network development. They promise to
enable the transition from broadband interconnection between people to the
connectivity of everything, eventually reshaping the way we live and work.
Various services, such as virtual reality (VR), autonomous driving, and
telemedicine, will no doubt flourish in the fully connected, intelligent world.
The year 2019 will be remembered as the year of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G, and the
application of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G is set to trigger heated discussions in the industry.
Therefore, it is necessary to have an in-depth understanding of the technical
features and application scenarios of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G.
(2019-08-29) Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 1

and Their Application Scenarios 2 Introduction to Wi-Fi 6 and 5G
2 Introduction to Wi-Fi 6 and 5G
2.1 Overview of Wi-Fi 6
2.1.1 Introduction to Wi-Fi 6

Since first being introduced 20 years ago, Wi-Fi has gained wide recognition for
its application and business values. Today, Wi-Fi is present in almost all mobile
devices and indoor environments. Almost 100% of smartphones and laptops
are Wi-Fi-capable. In addition, Wi-Fi is being rapidly integrated into innovative
consumer electronic devices, IoT, and vehicles. According to statistics provided
by the Wi-Fi Alliance, there are currently more than 10 billion Wi-Fi devices in
use, with Wi-Fi carrying more than half of the data traffic around the world.
Individuals, families, governments, and organizations depend on Wi-Fi devices
every day.
Figure 2-1 Wi-Fi development
In October 2018, to promote Wi-Fi technology, the Wi-Fi Alliance launched a

new Wi-Fi standard naming convention. Under this new naming convention,
802.11ax would be officially named Wi-Fi 6, with 11ac named Wi-Fi 5.
Regarding Wi-Fi 6, the Wi-Fi Alliance plans to certify Wi-Fi 6 devices in the third

quarter of 2019, making 2019 the year of Wi-Fi 6. One of the key features of
Wi-Fi is downward compatibility. That is, Wi-Fi 6 is fully compatible with
terminals complying with Wi-Fi 5 and earlier generations.
In addition to providing higher speeds, larger capacity, lower delay, and more
refined traffic management, Wi-Fi 6 provides higher spectrum efficiency, larger
coverage, lower power consumption, and higher reliability and security. What's
more, Wi-Fi 6 also increases the access capability of traffic-consuming and
delay-sensitive applications. With such capabilities, Wi-Fi 6 will greatly expand
the application scope and scenarios of the Wi-Fi network, from enterprise office
networks to enterprise production networks.
Figure 2-2 Wi-Fi 6 theoretical bandwidth
Wi-Fi 6 improves user experience with the following changes:
 The theoretical bandwidth reaches 9.6 Gbit/s (8 streams on the 160 MHz
frequency band).
 Wi-Fi 6 supports concurrent access of four times more terminals than Wi-Fi
5 (802.11ac).
 In Wi-Fi 6, terminals consume 30% less power, meeting the low power
consumption requirements of IoT terminals.
In addition to the orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and

multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technologies (described
in Chapter 2.3), Wi-Fi 6 features the following key technologies:
Target Wakeup Time (TWT): is another important resource scheduling

function supported by Wi-Fi 6. This function allows devices to negotiate when
and for how long they will wake up to send or receive data. Additionally, APs
can group terminals into different TWT periods to reduce the number of

devices that simultaneously compete for the wireless resources after waking up.
The TWT function also increases the sleep time of devices, greatly prolonging
the battery life.
BSS Color: Today's wireless networks are encountering frequency resource

shortages, especially when multiple APs are deployed in closed, high-density
scenarios such as stadiums. In such scenarios, APs may receive frames from
other APs on the same channel. Even the most powerful frequency modulation
algorithms cannot solve this kind of co-channel interference issue. To improve
the system performance and the efficiency of spectrum resource usage in dense
deployment environments, Wi-Fi 6 introduces BSS color, a channel spatial reuse
technique. With BSS color, a 6-bit identifier is added to a frame, so as to
distinguish BSS of different APs on a channel.
2.1.2 Application Scenarios

Wi-Fi networks a distributed connection architecture, which enables the
network to carry most wireless traffic and provide broadband connections in
residential areas, buildings, and outdoor areas where devices are densely
deployed.
Wi-Fi is already available in almost all indoor scenarios, such as enterprises,

schools, manufacturing areas, hospitals, governments, hotels, airports, and
cafes, carrying more than half of all data traffic. Wi-Fi is also the preferred
connection mode in residential buildings. Currently, Wi-Fi carries more than half
of data traffic.
With such wide application, Wi-Fi dominates the market due to its high
performance and tremendous economic benefits. The cost of deploying
wireless APs is very low, and the cost is lowered further due to the increasing
number of users accessing Wi-Fi. With lower capital expenditure (CAPEX) and
operation expenditure (OPEX) than cellular networks, as well as larger capacity,
Wi-Fi is able to achieve a cost per bit of about 1/30 that of cellular networks.
Compared to previous Wi-Fi generations, Wi-Fi 6 provides a higher data

transmission speed and larger network capacity, minimizes interference in
high-density scenarios, and is more energy-efficient and suitable for IoT. With
such strengths, Wi-Fi 6 will fully meet the requirements of next-generation IoT
connections.

Figure 2-3 Wi-Fi 6 bandwidth and latency requirements in major application

scenarios
Wi-Fi is a short-distance wireless technology. Due to the limitation of the AP

transmit power (no more than 500 mw, 27 dBm), and the upstream transmit
power of terminals, Wi-Fi is not suitable for outdoor long-distance coverage. If
used outdoors, Wi-Fi is only suitable in scenarios requiring coverage of up to a
few hundred meters or requiring high bandwidth and density, such as school
playgrounds.
2.2 Overview of 5G
2.2.1 Introduction to 5G
On December 20, 2017, 3GPP published the first 5G New Radio (NR) standards
at its 78th RAN plenary meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, and officially approved the
standalone (SA) variant for 5G NR specifications. The release of this standard
accelerated the commercial use of 5G.
Figure 2-4 Mobile communication development

As research into 5G progressed, the global mobile communications industry

has reached a consensus on 5G application scenarios. International
Telecommunication Union — Radio communication Sector (ITU-R) proposed
three major types of 5G services:
 Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB)

 Ultra-Reliable and Low-Latency Communications (URLLC)
 Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC)
Figure 2-5 5G scenarios
Evolution from 3G to 4G saw the reconstruction of the entire network

architecture from the access network to the core network. However, to facilitate
the evolution to the three scenarios, NR and core network can both evolve to
5G. Therefore, the 5G NR, 5G core network, and 4G core network can co-exist,
forming the non-standalone (NSA) architecture and standalone (SA)
architecture. In China, due to a large number of devices and massive market, the
SA architecture will be mainly used to meet the requirements of the Internet of
Everything in the future.
The theoretical bandwidth of 5G can reach 11.2 Gbit/s at the 200 MHz
frequency band and 3.3 Gbit/s at the 100 MHz frequency band in the sub-6 GHz
range. This is dozens of times higher than that of LTE.

Figure 2-6 5G theoretical speed
2.2.2 Application Scenarios for 5G Networks

Data services emerged in the 2G era, grew in the 3G era, and diversified during
the 4G era. Now, 5G ushers in a new era of mobile communications. ITU-R has
defined three application scenarios for 5G.
Figure 2-7 Three application scenarios for 5G
Autonomous cars, outdoor drones, and smart city Internet of Things (IoT)
require secure, reliable, low-latency, and high-bandwidth outdoor connections.
Only 5G is capable of accommodating these requirements.

However, 5G works on different spectrum bands with higher frequencies, for

example, sub-6 GHz (i.e. 3.5 GHz and 4.9 GHz) and millimeter wave (mmWave)
bands. According to the propagation law of electromagnetic waves, the higher
the frequency, the greater the propagation loss in the air. Given that walls inside
buildings, the deep interior sections of the buildings will experience much
worse outdoor-to-indoor coverage using high frequency bands. Therefore, 5G
devices typically need to be deployed indoors to offer 5G signals.
Nowadays, the rapid growth of mobile data traffic means that this area is no
longer profitable for carriers. To address this dilemma in the 5G era, carriers
start to venture into industry vertical markets and provide enterprise users with
private 5G networks featuring large bandwidth, low latency, and high
concurrency. To deliver value-added services (VASs) and guarantee critical
business, carriers usually adopt network slicing technology for 5G networks.
Using network virtualization techniques, network slicing enables carriers to
visualize various physical resources on the network as virtual resources.
Additionally, this technology helps construct end-to-end logical networks on
demand and provides a huge variety of network services by leveraging
specified network functions and particular access network technologies.
Figure 2-8 5G network slicing topology
The above figure shows the private network topology of VR-powered live
broadcast using 5G. As can be seen:
1. A carrier must participate in network construction. All traffic must be

forwarded by the carrier's core network, and goes beyond the enterprise
intranet.

2. 5G terminals are expected to be commercially available by 2020. At present,

5G connectivity is implemented by using 5G-capable CPEs to receive 5G
signals and then connect to codecs through Ethernet cables. Currently,
both enterprise office and home entertainment devices rarely come with
SIM card slots before delivery. This prevents these devices from directly
connecting to 4G or 5G. In most cases, 5G CPEs are used to receive 5G
signals and convert them into local Wi-Fi signals for coverage.
3. Enterprise IT personnel do not have 5G communications expertise.

Consequently, 5G networks must be planned, constructed, and maintained
by carriers. This presents challenges to enterprises in terms of cost, time,
and efficiency.
2.3 Technologies Shared by Wi-Fi 6 and 5G

Wi-Fi and mobile communication are two well-established technologies for
wireless connection. All those who formulated and implemented the two
most-used wireless technologies aim to improve the connection speed and user
experience. Therefore, Wi-Fi 6 and 5G borrow from each other due to
technological evolution.
2.3.1 OFDMA Technology

Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) evolved from
Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) and was first applied to
Long-Term Evolution (LTE) and then introduced into Wi-Fi 6.
Conventionally, when a user sends data (regardless of the size of data packets),
the entire channel is occupied. As a large number of management and control
frames are transmitted on the Wi-Fi network, transmission of each of these
frames, though small in size, still occupies the entire channel. As shown in the
following figure, OFDMA is used to divide a radio channel into multiple
subchannels (subcarriers) in a frequency domain. These subchannels form
frequency resource blocks, and these blocks carry user data. In this manner,
data from multiple users can be transmitted concurrently in each time frame,
without queuing or channel preemption. This reduces the queuing delay and
improves transmission efficiency. Therefore, OFDMA is ideal for multi-user
scenarios in which a large number of small data packets are transmitted, for
example, IoT or voice scenarios.

Figure 2-9 Wi-Fi 6 OFDMA (source: Wi-Fi Alliance)
Wi-Fi 6 adopts OFDMA technology to increase spectrum utilization efficiency.

For instance, the 80 MHz bandwidth can be divided into a maximum of 37
resource units, which can be used concurrently by 37 users.
The standard air interface technology employed by 5G is also derived from

OFDM and has a similar design to OFDMA in terms of subcarrier and frequency
bandwidth. The new Filtered OFDM (F-OFDM) technology proposed by Huawei
differs from OFDM in that the subcarrier bandwidth can be adjusted as required
to meet the time-frequency resource needs of different services. The system
bandwidth is divided into several subbands, and only a very low guard-band
overhead exists between the subbands. Different waveform parameters are
configured for each subband according to the actual service scenario. Each
subband is filtered using a filter, so as to implement waveform decoupling of
each subband.
2.3.2 MU-MIMO and Massive MIMO

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology originated with Wi-Fi and
was employed in 802.11n and then in 802.11ac and LTE.
Multi-User MIMO (MU-MIMO) was first adopted in the 802.11ac Wave 2 phase
of Wi-Fi 5, but works only with downlink wireless connections from an AP to a
wireless terminal. MU-MIMO allows one AP to send data packets to multiple
MU-MIMO capable terminals simultaneously. This greatly improves
transmission efficiency as an AP is not limited to communicating with only one
terminal at a time.
Wi-Fi 6 inherits this technology and enhances it by supporting uplink

MU-MIMO that enables up to 8x8 antenna arrays (allowing for concurrent
uplink or downlink transmission of a maximum of eight 1x1 users).

Figure 2-10 MU-MIMO
5G also uses this technology and calls it Massive MIMO. To implement wider
outdoor coverage, the number of antenna ports can be up to 64T64R (64
transmit, 64 receive), and beamforming in both horizontal and vertical
directions is supported. This implementation is also referred to as
Three-Dimensional MIMO (3D MIMO). However, the 64T64R antenna is large
and therefore not suitable for indoor installation. Huawei 5G LampSite for
indoor 5G coverage typically uses 4x4 MIMO antennas.
2.4 5G-Powered Huawei Wi-Fi 6

In addition to the technologies that Wi-Fi 6 borrows from 5G, Huawei
introduces some unique, cutting-edge technologies to Wi-Fi 6 by virtue of its
extensive expertise in 5G technology. These cutting-edge technologies secure
Huawei's position as leader of the Wi-Fi 6 sector.
2.4.1 5G-Powered Huawei Wi-Fi 6 — Smart Antenna

Technology
Smart antennas are antenna arrays with smart signal processing algorithms
used to identify spatial signal signatures such as the direction of arrival (DoA) of
the signal, and then use them to calculate beamforming vectors which are used
to track and locate the antenna beam on the mobile target. Like a searchlight
concentrating its beam to track objects, smart antennas help get more precise
results. Owing to years of communications technologies experience, Huawei
remains the market leader in new technologies, new materials, new techniques,
and intelligent algorithms for smart antennas. Huawei's best-in-class 5G

Massive MIMO smart antennas use self-developed innovative chips, adopt a

highly integrated design, and deliver excellent heat dissipation.
All of Huawei's Wi-Fi 6 APs use 5G-powered smart antennas. Compared with
traditional omnidirectional antennas, Huawei's smart antennas significantly
improve the signal strength and interference suppression. Therefore, there is a
20% increase in the signal coverage distance and a 15% reduction in signal
interference.
Figure 2-11 Huawei's Wi-Fi 6 smart antennas
Apart from the hardware design, the smart antenna selection algorithm is also
key to achieving flexible, dynamic signal coverage adjustment as well as signal
that adapts to users. Huawei smart antennas use a one-of-its-kind beam
selection algorithm that rapidly selects the optimal antenna combination
among 232 antenna combinations. Signals thereby adapt flexibly to users,
achieving accurate coverage.
2.4.2 5G-Powered Huawei Wi-Fi Intelligent Radio Calibration

Technology — SmartRadio
Wireless network optimization adjusts device parameters and antennas in order
to optimize the wireless coverage, network capacity, and system performance
of the network. Cellular wireless networks are harder to optimize than Wi-Fi
networks due to their sheer scale. Huawei applies years of experience in cellular
network optimization to Wi-Fi and offers optimal Wi-Fi networks in terms of
radio transmit power, channel, and frequency bandwidth.

To better perceive the surrounding environment and interference, Huawei Wi-Fi

6 APs provide built-in independent probes, which scan 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz
environments in real time instead of using the working radio. This function
improves the interference optimization accuracy by 30%. In addition, Huawei
leverages Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to analyze the historical
interference and AP loads on the wireless network, and predict and
automatically configure the best channels for APs.
2.4.3 5G-Powered Wi-Fi 6 Application Acceleration

Technology — Dynamic Turbo
5G network slicing can help slice a physical network into multiple logical
networks based on industry service requirements. The logical network
produced can be used by industry customers to ensure the bandwidth and
latency of mission-critical services.
Huawei Wi-Fi 6 borrows from 5G network slicing technology: Core switches,

WACs, and APs all support hierarchical QoS (HQoS) to identify and
preferentially guarantee key applications of VIP users, thus offering end-to-end
QoS guarantee for mission-critical services. When an AP detects and reports
congestion, the WAC that the AP connects to reserves a dedicated channel for
the congested AP and implements traffic shaping. Additionally, the AP reserves
bandwidth for VIP users: Based on the user weight, the AP evaluates the
spectrum resources required by VIP users in real time based on the buffered
data volume and packet transmission rate over the air interface. Next, the AP
allocates Radio Units (RUs) to VIP users based on the DL & UL OFDMA
transmission mode.
Figure 2-12 Huawei Dynamic Turbo for QoS assurance

For VR/AR applications, Huawei Wi-Fi 6 Dynamic Turbo technology helps

ensure latency below 10 ms, to deliver a smooth user experience without
dizziness.
2.4.4 5G-Powered Wi-Fi 6 Lossless Roaming Technology

In the mobile cellular communication process, seamless handover can
effectively ensure the uninterrupted communication of mobile users. The base
station can determine whether a handover is required based on conditions such
as the signal quality of a mobile terminal. If certain conditions are met, the
source base station notifies the mobile terminal of a handover to the target
base station.
Huawei introduces the mobile cellular network’s seamless handover technology

to the Wi-Fi network. With this technology, the AP is able to predict the next
mobility group of a mobile terminal according to its movement tracks and helps
the terminal to quickly roam to the target AP. This roaming process causes no
packet loss and effectively solves the problem of terminal stickiness.
In the smart warehousing sector, Huawei's Lossless Roaming technology can

help achieve zero packet loss during the roaming of automated guided vehicles
(AGVs).

and Their Application Scenarios 3 Comparison Between Wi-Fi 6 and 5G
3 Comparison Between Wi-Fi 6 and 5G
Traffic in the 4G era consists primarily of voice services and personal network
communication. The next era, however, will provide 5G network access to a
wide range of enterprise networks, including vertical industries. But as 5G
utilizes similar technologies to Wi-Fi 6, which is the best choice for users?
3.1 Spectrum Usage
3.1.1 Wi-Fi Spectrum

Currently, the frequency bands used by Wi-Fi are free of charge, meaning
anyone and any company can use these bands without registration.
The two frequency bands designated to carry Wi-Fi are 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz, with
the 2.4 GHz band used globally as a wireless frequency and for short-distance
wireless transmission. In addition to Wi-Fi, the 2.4 GHz frequency band serves
Bluetooth, ZigBee, wireless USB, and even microwave ovens. As a result, this
frequency band suffers from high interference.
The 5 GHz Wi-Fi frequency band is much higher than the 2.4 GHz frequency
band in terms of frequency, speed, and anti-interference. However, as this band
has a higher frequency and therefore a shorter wavelength than its 2.4 GHz
counterpart, it delivers poor penetration capabilities and shorter transmission
distances. While 5 GHz frequency band ranges vary from country to country, its
wide frequency bandwidth and reduced interference make it suitable for
high-speed transmission.

Figure 3-1 Wi-Fi 5 GHz channel distribution
As shown in the preceding figure, 5 GHz supports three 80 MHz frequency

bands in China; however, only one 160 MHz frequency band is available.
Although Wi-Fi 6 supports the 160 MHz frequency bandwidth, it is difficult to
utilize as interference problems cannot be overcome. This issue is not unique to
China, with other countries also experiencing the same problem. The US FCC
has approved a draft to allow Wi-Fi to use the 6 GHz frequency band, while the
EU also plans to allow Wi-Fi to use 5.925 GHz to 6.425 GHz frequency
bandwidth. Leveraging these frequency bands, Wi-Fi can be extensively
developed and more widely applied in the future.
Figure 3-2 6 GHz channel distribution
3.1.2 5G Spectrum
Compared to Wi-Fi, the 5G spectrum is a strategic resource often sold to
carriers in various countries through auction, with each MHz valued at US$100
million.

5G frequency bands can be divided into two categories, one of which is known
as sub-6 GHz (operating below 6 GHz). This category is used for most 5G
applications, as the lower frequency offers stronger coverage and penetration
capabilities. However, frequency bands lower than 3 GHz have been used on
existing networks, with usage varying depending on the country. As such, 3.5
GHz frequency bands will mainly be used in the 5G era. Each carrier can be
allocated approximately 100 MHz frequency bandwidth, with both China
Telecom and China Unicom obtaining 100 MHz bandwidth in the 3.5 GHz
frequency band. Meanwhile, China Mobile has obtained approximately 160
MHz bandwidth in the 2.6 GHz frequency band and 100 MHz bandwidth in the
4.8 GHz frequency band. The other 5G frequency band category is mmWave,
which is currently being promoted in the US. mmWave uses high-frequency
electromagnetic waves exceeding 24 GHz, featuring poor penetration
capabilities but offering sufficient bandwidth.
Figure 3-3 5G spectrum distribution in China
To promote the combination of telecom technologies and vertical industries,

and to continue the drive towards digital transformation, some governments
have begun to allocate 5G spectrums to business entities. In April 2015, the US
FCC provided a 150 MHz spectrum to Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS)
in the 3.5 GHz frequency band, and constructed private LTE networks
independent of carriers (5G is also under consideration). Currently, CBRS is
calling for more vendors to verify interconnection protocols and plans to
provide 5G deployment capabilities by 2020. Inevitably, spectrum sharing
becomes a matter of politics and private gain, inviting pressure and resistance
from all sides and proving difficult to implement.
3.2 Terminal Ecosystem

Today, almost every device is embedded with a Wi-Fi module, allowing users to
access enterprise or personal networks through mobile phones, printers,
electronic whiteboards, intelligent building control systems, projection TVs, and

telepresence systems. To implement digital transformation, enterprises require

a wide range of IoT devices. Some of these support Wi-Fi, while others rely on
RFID, ZigBee, and Bluetooth. Current WLAN APs support IoT protocols,
enabling these devices to be directly connected to the Wi-Fi network.
Cellular networks have existed within the enterprise market for a relatively short
time, allowing most mobile phones and some tablets to access cellular
networks using SIM cards. As NB-IoT develops within the larger IoT landscape,
some scenarios (such as smart meter reading and bicycle sharing) support the
use of SIM cards. However, these IoT devices are required to cooperate with
carriers for product customization.
Figure 3-4 Device ecosystem of Wi-Fi and cellular networks
3.3 Network Stability and Flexibility

Network Stability
We've always found Wi-Fi networks to be less stable than their 4G/5G
counterparts. On the one hand, Wi-Fi frequency bands are public and prone to
interference. On the other, network throughput decreases sharply due to
conflicts between devices as the number of users increases.
The frequency reuse technology used by Wi-Fi 6 greatly reduces frequency

interference, while the OFDMA and MU-MIMO technologies improve network
efficiency and capacity. As the number of concurrent users increases, Wi-Fi 6
users experience less significant delays than those of Wi-Fi 5, and the total
concurrent bandwidth of APs does not decrease exponentially. As a result,

wireless network stability increases dramatically in the Wi-Fi 6 era. The

following figure provides a comparison between Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 networks.
Figure 3-5 Wi-Fi 6 stability simulation (2x2@80 MHz)
Network Flexibility
Wi-Fi networks are flexible and easy to deploy. If you want to expand the
coverage and support more users, you can simply add APs and customize
policies to control the network resources accessible to different types of
terminals and their access bandwidth. New users or terminals can easily access
the Wi-Fi network just by creating an account.
In addition, data security can be ensured by configuring inter-terminal traffic

and traffic for accessing internal servers not to pass through the external
network.
On a 5G network, access traffic of all terminals must pass through the carrier's
network, leading to inefficient transmission and complicating management. If a
new user or terminal attempts to access the network, they need to apply for a
license. To make matters worse, carriers must assist in any expansion of network
coverage.

Figure 3-6 Traffic direction on a Wi-Fi network and a cellular network
3.4 Security
3.4.1 Wi-Fi Security Overview

Security on a Wi-Fi network covers terminals, the network itself, and data.
Security requirements for background application servers are the same as those
on wired networks. The firewall and behavior management system are
responsible for background application server security.
 Terminal security: Authorized terminals need to be protected against

threats such as viruses and Trojan horses. A typical method for enterprises
to determine whether terminals are authorized is to embed a digital
certificate in each office terminal using bring your own device (BYOD).
 Network-side security: Wi-Fi network security includes authentication and
authorization, with the former authenticating the identity of an access user,
and the latter specifying the resources that authenticated users can access.
Common authentication modes include MAC address, Portal, and 802.1X
authentication, with MAC address being the least secure mode and 802.1X
the most secure. Common authorization factors include identity, terminal

type, location, and time. That is, when and where what resources can be
accessed, and by who.
 Data security: Wi-Fi encryption ensures data security during transmission.
Encryption protocols have never stopped evolving, with ever-more
enhanced security as they evolve from WEP towards Wi-Fi 6.
Figure 3-7 Wi-Fi encryption technology evolution
Wi-Fi networks have long been regarded as insecure. But is this really the case?
Actually, Wi-Fi networks themselves are secure. The insecurity mainly lies in
unencrypted wireless signals or PSK-assistant signals on networks deployed in
public areas. For convenient Wi-Fi access, public areas such as cafes and
airports provide open and unencrypted wireless networks or provide Portal
authentication for users after merely entering their mobile phone numbers. On
such networks, network devices are highly susceptible to attacks and
unencrypted data can be intercepted.
Enterprise-level Wi-Fi networks use 802.1X authentication and Advanced

Encryption Standard (AES), requiring users to enter usernames and passwords.
Such a combination is yet to be cracked. Digital certificates need to be installed
on both terminals and network devices for bidirectional direction, especially
when 802.1X authentication based on Extensible Authentication
Protocol-Transport Layer Security (EAP-TLS) is adopted. This effectively
prevents attacks such as eavesdropping and packet tampering.

3.4.2 WPA3 Makes Wi-Fi 6 More Secure

WPA3, the next generation of Wi-Fi security, is indispensable for Wi-Fi 6 devices.
Indeed, all Huawei Wi-Fi 6 devices support WPA3. The WPA3 standards consist
of the following:
 WPA3 provides Enhanced Open - Opportunistic Wireless Encryption

(Enhanced Open - OWE) for open SSID signals on networks for cafes. When
associating with an AP, a terminal negotiates with the AP using the
Diffie-Hellman algorithm and generates a PSK. After successful association,
their communication data is encrypted using the PSK. This avoids data
interception, unlike with plain text data transmission.
 WPA2 transmits data using the WPA2-Personal (WPA2-PSK). However, this
mode is susceptible to brute force attacks such as dictionary attacks,
posing security risks. WPA3 is more secure that WPA2 in that it uses SAE to
prevent brute force cracking and replay attacks. Currently, WPA2-Enterprise
with AES is the most secure option. To meet high security requirements of
governments and financial institutions, WPA3 provides Commercial
National Security Algorithms (CNSA), also called Suit B, improves the
encryption key length from 128 bits to 256 bits, thereby completely
eliminating the risk of brute force cracking attacks. Suite B Cryptography is
a set of cryptographic algorithms recommended by National Security
Agency (NSA) of the United States. It is an elliptic-curve cryptography (ECC)
technology, making WPA3 better suited to governments and financial
institutions.
In addition, when using WPA3, you can further improve security by enabling
Protected Management Frames (PMF) complying with IEEE 802.11w. This serves
to mitigate eavesdropping and Wi-Fi management frame-targeted attacks, as
such frames are not encrypted by default and are therefore vulnerable.
Although PMF has already been defined in 802.11ac, it is not mandatory for
Wi-Fi networks.

Figure 3-8 PMF
The following table lists the time required to carry out brute force cracking on
different encryption algorithms. We can see that it is almost impossible to crack
AES128 using brute force.
Table 3-1 Time required to carry out brute force cracking on different encryption
algorithms
Key Password Key Quantity Time for Executing Time for Executing
Length Encryption Decryption Once Decryption 10,000
Algorithm Per Nanosecond Times Per
Nanosecond
56 DES 2^56 = 2^55 ns ~ 1.125 1 hour

7.2*10^16 years
128 AES 2^128 = 2^127 ns ~ 5.3*10^17 years

3.4*10^38 5.3*10^21 years
168 Triple DES 2^168 = 2^167 ns ~ 5.8*10^29 years

3.7*10^50 5.8*10^33 years
192 AES 2^192 = 2^191 ns ~ 9.8*10^36 years

6.3*10^57 9.8*10^40 years
256 AES 2^256 = 2^255 ns ~ 1.8*10^56 years

1.2*10^77 1.8*10^60 years

3.4.3 5G Security
Traditional cellular networks manage identities and keys of users based on
(U)SIM cards, optimize authentication mechanisms from unidirectional
authentication in the 2G era to bidirectional authentication in the 3G/4G/5G era,
and continuously enhance key length and algorithm security.
Figure 3-9 Authentication between the 5G terminal and core network
5G enhances security in the following aspects:
1. When a terminal registers with a 4G network, IMSIs are transmitted in plain

text, which is prone to user information leakage. 5G solves this issue by
ensuring users' authentication request packets are encrypted, preventing
information leakage. This takes on a similar role to PMF on Wi-Fi networks.
Once the terminal is successfully registered, it is identified by the TMSI
during communication.

Figure 3-10 4G-capable terminal registers with the network
2. 5G enhances security by extending the key length from 128 bits to 256 bits.
A longer key means higher security.
The 5G network needs to accommodate a large number of smart devices and

different types of terminals. However, (U)SIM cards are not suitable for some
devices. 5G networks must therefore trust authentication modes for vertical
industries, such as 802.1X authentication, or import a new terminal identity
management mode.
3.4.4 Phishing APs and Rogue Base Stations

Rogue base stations may covertly enter into normal communications and
damage the network by interfering with or blocking signals of carriers within a
certain scope or pretending to be official customer service numbers when
sending text messages to users. Users may then be charged large sums of
money after clicking a link in the text message. Such rogue base stations are
hard to discover. Even now, no effective method is available to prohibit them.
Similarly, rogue APs may also covertly enter the Wi-Fi network. Here, they are
also called phishing APs. They can broadcast SSID signals similar to or even the
same as those of authorized APs, enticing users to directly connect to them.
Once a user is connected, the phishing AP will intercept the user' account
information as well as data sourced from the user.

Therefore, the enterprise-level Wi-Fi network must become capable of

identifying and containing rogue APs. That is, if a rogue AP is identified on a
network, an authorized AP simulates the IP address of the rogue AP and forges
forcible offline frames to prevent users from connecting to the rogue AP. The
working AP's performance is affected only when the working radio is used to
identify and contain rogue APs. Leveraging a built-in non-working radio
independent from the other two working radios, Huawei Wi-Fi 6 APs can
monitor and contain rogue APs in real time. In addition, highly secure
bidirectional authentication, such as digital certificate authentication, needs to
be deployed on the enterprise-level Wi-Fi network. That is, terminals also
authenticate the network identity, as well as being authenticated by the
network, protecting themselves from getting connected to an unauthorized
network.
Figure 3-11 Containing a rogue AP

3.4.5 Wi-Fi 6 and 5G Security Comparison
Figure 3-12 Four security levels
This section compares the security of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G from the following
perspectives.
 Terminal security:
Different types of Wi-Fi terminals are available and each type requires its
own kind of protection. For example, you can control network access on
office BYOD devices by installing digital certificates, whereas you can
control network access on other types of IoT terminals by identifying their
types and MAC addresses.
In addition, 5G involves vertical industries, and therefore IoT terminals must

be identified and controlled.
 Air interface security:
− Identity recognition: Both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G require an AAA authentication

server. Identities of Wi-Fi 6 terminals are authenticated based on user
names and passwords (or digital certificates), while the identities of 5G
terminals are authenticated based on the built-in user service identity
module (USIM).
− Air interface authentication: Wi-Fi 6 provides multiple authentication

modes. For example, EAP-PEAP-assistant 802.1X authentication
(username/password) or EAP-TLS-assistant 802.1X authentication

(digital certificate), which can be used for enterprises with high security
requirements. 5G provides EAP-AKA-assistant authentication (SIM card),
whose security level is the same as that of Wi-Fi 6 authentication modes.
− Encryption algorithm: Both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G usually use AES for

encryption.
− Key length: Wi-Fi 6 supports keys of 192 and 256 bits, while 5G usually
uses keys of 256 bits, providing an equivalent level of security.
 Network device security:
The extent to which enterprise network devices are secured depends on the
capabilities of IT personnel. Large enterprises can protect network devices
at the same level as carriers do, and can effectively control traffic using
security devices the same as carriers, including firewalls and intrusion
detection-capable devices. By contrast, devices on small- and
medium-sized enterprise (SME) networks are prone to external attacks
because their IT personnel have limited technical capabilities.
 Application security:
Enterprise-built networks ensure that crucial enterprise application services

are forwarded within their networks, guaranteeing application security.
Applications that have been migrated to the cloud must be secured by the
cloud. Wi-Fi 6 and 5G are responsible for the establishment of traffic
forwarding channels; therefore, they provide the same security level as
each other.
Table 3-2 Wi-Fi 6 and 5G security comparison
Enterprise-level Wi-Fi provides the same bidirectional authentication capability

as the cellular network, and can ensure data security as long as the passwords
are not manually disclosed. Wi-Fi 6 and 5G are roughly equivalent in terms of

security. Enterprise-built Wi-Fi networks can control data flow directions and
confine key service data to local networks. This is another advantage of Wi-Fi. In
addition, personalized authentication modes, such as Portal or WeChat
authentication, can be used in scenarios with low security requirements.
3.5 Typical Application Scenario Comparison Between

Wi-Fi 6 and 5G
3.5.1 Outdoor Coverage

Typically, outdoor Wi-Fi only transmits up to 30 dBm and covers a distance of
less than 500 m. Therefore, outdoor Wi-Fi is mainly used to provide user access
in outdoor high-density scenarios, such as school playgrounds and pedestrian
streets.
Figure 3-13 Outdoor AP coverage
Compared with Wi-Fi 6, 5G is better suited to provide large-scale outdoor

coverage such as that required by scenic spots and cities. The outdoor macro
base stations outperform Wi-Fi 6 in both coverage range and roaming.
Therefore, 5G is often used to support autonomous cars, drones, and IoT
devices (such as smart street lamps) in smart cities.

Figure 3-14 Outdoor coverage of 5G
3.5.2 Indoor High-Density Coverage

5G can accommodate one terminal per square meter, equating to one million
terminals per square kilometer. However, 5G may not be suitable for scenarios
such as typical office areas and student dormitories where each user has at least
two terminals, and stadium stands where each site measures about 0.5 square
meters.
Due to the incredible flexibility of Wi-Fi networks, such issues can be easily
resolved. Directional antennas can be deployed to cover special areas with
high-density access requirements. Alternatively, a highly performing or
triple-radio AP is also a good choice here. The AP's transmit power can be
controlled to reduce the coverage area. In this way there can be two or three
terminals connected to the network concurrently per square meter. Wi-Fi 6
outperforms Wi-Fi 5 with its use of OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and four-fold
concurrent capacity.
In an office scenario, the AP7060DN can accommodate 200 terminals

concurrently in an area with a 5-m coverage radius (about 75 square meters in
total). That is, three terminals can connect to the AP concurrently per square
meter.

Figure 3-15 High-density coverage
3.5.3 VR/AR Requiring High Bandwidth

Emerging applications, such as VR/AR/4K/8K, have high bandwidth
requirements. For example, VR/AR requires a bandwidth of over 100 Mbit/s,
and 4K requires a bandwidth of more than 50 Mbit/s.
5G adopts two high frequency bands to improve user bandwidth: Sub-6G and
mmWave. Sub-6G supports a maximum frequency bandwidth of 100 MHz,
while mmWave supports a maximum frequency bandwidth of 400 MHz. Due to
their large size and limitations on installation space, 64T64R Massive MIMO
antennas cannot be installed on indoor 5G networks, instead, smaller 4T4R
MIMO antennas are generally used. As indicated by the following figure, a 100
MHz frequency bandwidth needs to be configured so that the edge rate of 5G
reaches 100 Mbit/s, and the number of micro base stations deployed must
match the number of APs, which significantly increases the costs of indoor 5G
coverage.

Figure 3-16 Simulated edge rate of an indoor 5G cell
High-end Wi-Fi 6 APs from all vendors support 8x8 MIMO, and there are three
non-overlapping channels in the 80 MHz frequency bandwidth. Taking a
terminal supporting 2x2 MIMO as an example, theoretically, the 80 MHz
frequency bandwidth can provide a bandwidth of 1.2 Gbit/s, easily meeting
bandwidth requirements of VR/AR/4K. As shown in the following figure, Huawei
Wi-Fi 6 satisfies concurrent user access requirements in VR education and 4K
office scenarios.
Table 3-3 Simulated capability of a Huawei highly performing AP
Therefore, Wi-Fi 6 can satisfy the access requirements of VR education and

provide an immersive experience. Yet 5G is the best option for latency-sensitive
remote assistance VR applications because only one user at a time is using such
an application.

Figure 3-17 Typical VR application types
3.5.4 Industrial Production and Manufacturing

The manufacturing industry, with creativity at its core, is developing towards
lean and flexible production backed by digital processes. Traditionally,
manufacturers could only connect applications through wired technologies. As
sensors, AGVs, industrial AR, and machine vision are applied on a large scale,
IoT wireless networks with high bandwidths are a necessity for production
workshops, and device-level networks sensitive to latency are emerging. Wi-Fi 6
is extending Wi-Fi application scenarios from enterprise office networks to
industry production networks which require its high bandwidth and low latency.

Figure 3-18 Wi-Fi 6 benefiting the intelligent industrial production and

manufacturing
 AGV application: Highly flexible manufacturing is a major trend in the

automobile manufacturing industry, and AGVs are critical to logistics
flexibility. The workstation of an automated production line generates a
material delivery task containing both the name of the materials to be
delivered, and the target operation station, in advance, based on the
production situation of the local site, and delivers the task to the AGV
dispatch system. The AGV dispatch system generates a dispatch task based
on the target operation station, process flow, location and status of AGVs,
and notifies a proper AGV to deliver the required materials to the target
operation station. This massively increases the efficiency of material
shipment. However, AGVs need to travel across multiple APs in the factory.
Therefore, the Wi-Fi network needs to ensure that the AGVs can roam
seamlessly.
Figure 3-19 AGVs benefiting production and manufacturing

 VR/AR application: Wireless AR frees production personnel from location

constraints, helping them to complete tasks more efficiently. If a device is
faulty, production personnel can transmit videos indicating the device
status to the expert system in real time, using AR. The expert system then
pushes guidance videos to production personnel to guide them in fixing
the device. During assembly, onsite personnel extract device information
by scanning barcodes. The system then feeds back device installation
videos to personnel through AR, so that the personnel wearing AR glasses
can operate devices following the videos. Smart AR glasses therefore
improve the working efficiency of the personnel.
 Real-time video collection using industrial cameras: Edge computing
facilitates goods identification and sorting. Industrial cameras adopt
status-based monitoring, machine learning, digital simulation, and the
implementation of a digital twin to predict performance changes precisely,
thereby optimizing maintenance plans and automatically subscribing to
components. This, in turn, reduces the downtime and maintenance costs.
Wi-Fi 6, featuring both high flexibility and high bandwidth, can be deployed for
wireless access in some intelligent production and manufacturing scenarios.
Industrial production and manufacturing also involves applications extremely
sensitive to latency, for example, collaborative robots that require a latency of
less than 5 ms. Transmitting the data of such applications (requiring a latency
less than 20 ms) over Wi-Fi networks is impractical. Instead, 5G is much better
suited to such applications.
3.5.5 Multi-Branch Scenario

If users in SMEs and organizations with multiple branches only require access to
the Internet, 5G-capable CPEs (embedded with Wi-Fi) are a good choice. The
CPEs are connected to the 5G network in the upstream direction and provide
Wi-Fi services in the downstream direction. If a single AP cannot accommodate
all users, multiple APs can be deployed to quickly implement a LAN for wireless
office. A 5G network interface card (NIC) can be installed on each terminal, but
this is expensive. In addition, if a new terminal needs to be connected to the
network, another 5G NIC is required.

Figure 3-20 5G + Wi-Fi network with CPEs
A multi-branch enterprise network has egress gateways to connect to the

Internet and protect internal data. To facilitate network management cloud APs
can be used so as to centrally configure and manage all APs through the cloud
management platform.
Figure 3-21 Cloud-based Wi-Fi management
Therefore, in multi-branch scenarios, a primary or backup 5G uplink, and cloud

APs in the downstream direction, can be deployed, implementing rapid
deployment and easy O&M of multi-branch enterprises and organizations.
For example, Shenzhen Metro works with Huawei and China Unicom to deploy
the most suitable network. On the network, China Unicom's 5G network is
connected in the upstream direction and Wi-Fi 6 is used to cover subway
stations, representing a perfect integration of 5G and Wi-Fi 6.

3.5.6 Indoor IoT Scenario

5G massive machine-type communications (mMTC) is dedicated to connecting
massive IoT devices. In indoor scenarios, however, different IoT protocols are
used for the data transmission of applications and terminals, such as asset
management in factories, ESLs in shopping malls, and industrial manufacturing
robots. Therefore, it is hard to directly install 5G NICs on the necessary devices
for communication.
Currently, the WLAN APs of most vendors have integrated various function
modules such as RFID, ZigBee, and Bluetooth, and can support more IoT
protocols through the use of external cards. This integrates IoT and Wi-Fi,
saving costs.
Figure 3-22 Integration between Wi-Fi and IoT
A good example here is the retail industry with the ESL service. APs integrate
the ESL base stations that manage ESLs. APs provide a unified uplink
connection for Wi-Fi and ESL, integrating the Wi-Fi and ESL networks.
Therefore, Wi-Fi is more suitable for indoor scenarios with massive IoT devices.

and Their Application Scenarios 4 Summary
4 Summary
The transmission rate has improved almost twenty-fold in the 20-year evolution
from 2G, 3G, 4G, to 5G. Supplementing the indoor coverage technologies of
cellular networks, Wi-Fi is also responsible for transmitting a large amount of
data. Wi-Fi networks are now substantially enhanced in terms of bandwidth,
network capacity, and coverage as the Wi-Fi standards develop from
802.11a/11b/11g/11n/11ac to 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6). This technical progress
enables yet more applications to be implemented.
4.1 Comparison Summary Between Wi-Fi 6 and 5G
Table 4-1 Comparison between Wi-Fi 6 and 5G

Wi-Fi 6:
 Advantages: Mainstream enterprise wireless solution that outperforms 5G

in terms of spectrum, terminal ecosystem, network cost, ease of
deployment, flexibility, and management requirements.
 Disadvantages: Wi-Fi 6 does not perform well in large-scale outdoor
coverage scenarios and cannot meet the ultra-low latency requirements (<
10 ms).
5G:
 Advantages: Leading wireless technology that outperforms Wi-Fi 6 in terms

of MIMO, service latency, mobile roaming, and outdoor coverage.
 Disadvantages: The cost of deploying 5G networks indoors is high, and
there is the issue of weak terminal compatibility. Carriers must participate in
5G deployment, making it difficult to alter the network structure.
4.2 Application Scenario Comparison Summary

The main benefit of Wi-Fi 6 for enterprises is that it helps them to quickly
establish their own networks and structure these networks based on their
service changes, meeting enterprises' customization requirements. For example,
enterprises establish their office networks and schools establish networks for
students' network access. In addition to traditional Wi-Fi scenarios, Wi-Fi 6 is
also applicable to enterprise VR/AR/4K applications, AGVs for warehousing and
logistics, and asset management for supermarkets and factories.
5G focuses on public networks and is deployed in scenarios or terminals with

high roaming and latency requirements, for example, autonomous cars, drones,
outdoor personal network access, and factories with ultra-low latency
requirements (< 10 ms).

Figure 4-1 Application scenarios of Wi-Fi 6
Therefore, combining 5G with Wi-Fi 6 is still the best option for public and
private networks in the near future, as these two technologies complement
each other in many scenarios.
Figure 4-2 Deployment scenarios of Wi-Fi 6 and 5G

Wi-Fi 6 and 5G each have their respective most applicable scenarios where
neither can replace the other. Therefore, selecting the most appropriate
technology according to the scenario requirements helps enterprises to reduce
costs, improve efficiency, and accelerate their digital transformation.

and Their Application Scenarios A Acronyms and Abbreviations
A Acronyms and Abbreviations
Numerics
5G The Fifth Generation
3GPP 3rd Generation Partnership Project
A:
AR Augmented Reality
AGV Automated Guided Vehicle
AES Advanced Encryption Standard
D:
DES Data Encryption Standard
E:
ESL Electronic Shelf Label
I:
IoT Internet of Things
L:
LTE Long Term Evolution
M:
MU-MIMO Multi-User Multiple-Input Multiple-Output
N:

and Their Application Scenarios A Acronyms and Abbreviations
NSA Non-standalone
O:
OFDM Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing
OFDMA Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access
S:
SAE Simultaneous Authentication of Equals
T:
TWT Target Wake Time
V:
VR Virtual Reality
W:
WPA Wi-Fi Protected Access

Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
Address: Huawei Industrial Base Bantian,
Longgang Shenzhen 518129 People's Republic of China
Website: e.huawei.com
Trademarks and Permissions
and other Huawei trademarks are trademarks of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
All other trademarks and trade names mentioned in this document are the property of their respective holders.
Notice
The purchased products, services and features are stipulated by the contract made between Huawei and the customer. All or part of the products,
services and features described in this document may not be within the purchase scope or the usage scope. Unless otherwise specified in the
contract, all statements, information, and recommendations in this document are provided "AS IS" without warranties, guarantees or representations
of any kind, either express or implied.
The information in this document is subject to change without notice. Every effort has been made in the preparation of this document to ensure
accuracy of the contents, but all statements, information, and recommendations in this document do not constitute a warranty of any kind, express or implied.
Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 2019. All rights reserved.

No part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written consent of Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.

Technology White Paper For Wi-Fi 6 and 5G and Their Application Scenario

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

You might also like

Technology White Paper For Wi-Fi 6 and 5G and Their Application Scenario

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Technology White Paper For Wi-Fi 6 and 5G and Their Application Scenario

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Technology White Paper for Wi-Fi 6 and 5G and

Their Application Scenarios

Huawei Campus Network Marketing Support Module

Author: Hou Fangming (Alan Hou)

This white paper is comprehensively backed up by Huawei campus network

(2019-08-29) Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. i

2 Introduction to Wi-Fi 6 and 5G ......................................................................................... 2

2.1.1 Introduction to Wi-Fi 6 ................................................................................................................................. 2

2.1.2 Application Scenarios ................................................................................................................................... 4

2.2 Overview of 5G ................................................................................................................................................. 5

2.2.1 Introduction to 5G ......................................................................................................................................... 5

2.2.2 Application Scenarios for 5G Networks .................................................................................................... 7

2.3 Technologies Shared by Wi-Fi 6 and 5G ...................................................................................................... 9

2.3.1 OFDMA Technology ...................................................................................................................................... 9

2.3.2 MU-MIMO and Massive MIMO .................................................................................................................10

2.4 5G-Powered Huawei Wi-Fi 6 ......................................................................................................................... 11

2.4.1 5G-Powered Huawei Wi-Fi 6 — Smart Antenna Technology ............................................................... 11

2.4.2 5G-Powered Huawei Wi-Fi Intelligent Radio Calibration Technology — SmartRadio.....................12

2.4.3 5G-Powered Wi-Fi 6 Application Acceleration Technology — Dynamic Turbo ................................13

2.4.4 5G-Powered Wi-Fi 6 Lossless Roaming Technology ..............................................................................14

3 Comparison Between Wi-Fi 6 and 5G ........................................................................... 15

3.1.1 Wi-Fi Spectrum .............................................................................................................................................15

3.1.2 5G Spectrum ..................................................................................................................................................16

3.2 Terminal Ecosystem .........................................................................................................................................17

3.3 Network Stability and Flexibility ...................................................................................................................18

3.4 Security ..............................................................................................................................................................20

3.4.1 Wi-Fi Security Overview ..............................................................................................................................20

(2019-08-29) Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. ii

3.4.2 WPA3 Makes Wi-Fi 6 More Secure ............................................................................................................22

3.4.3 5G Security .....................................................................................................................................................24

3.4.4 Phishing APs and Rogue Base Stations ....................................................................................................25

3.4.5 Wi-Fi 6 and 5G Security Comparison ........................................................................................................27

3.5 Typical Application Scenario Comparison Between Wi-Fi 6 and 5G......................................................29

3.5.1 Outdoor Coverage........................................................................................................................................29

3.5.2 Indoor High-Density Coverage ..................................................................................................................30

3.5.3 VR/AR Requiring High Bandwidth.............................................................................................................31

3.5.4 Industrial Production and Manufacturing................................................................................................33

3.5.5 Multi-Branch Scenario .................................................................................................................................35

3.5.6 Indoor IoT Scenario ......................................................................................................................................37

4.2 Application Scenario Comparison Summary .............................................................................................39

A Acronyms and Abbreviations ......................................................................................... 42

(2019-08-29) Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. iii

As we enter a new world where everything is connected, networks lay the

The fifth generation of mobile communications technology (5G) and Wi-Fi 6

(2019-08-29) Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 1

2 Introduction to Wi-Fi 6 and 5G

2.1 Overview of Wi-Fi 6

2.1.1 Introduction to Wi-Fi 6

Figure 2-1 Wi-Fi development

In October 2018, to promote Wi-Fi technology, the Wi-Fi Alliance launched a

(2019-08-29) Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 2

Figure 2-2 Wi-Fi 6 theoretical bandwidth

Wi-Fi 6 improves user experience with the following changes:

In addition to the orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) and

Target Wakeup Time (TWT): is another important resource scheduling

(2019-08-29) Copyright © Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. 3

BSS Color: Today's wireless networks are encountering frequency resource

2.1.2 Application Scenarios