5G and Wi-Fi:

Charting a path
toward superior
indoor connectivity
2 Ericsson  |  5G and Wi-Fi: Charting a path toward superior indoor connectivity

Meeting the market

need for superior indoor
connectivity technology

Having entered the market at a similar time, the two

latest wireless standards 5G NR and Wi-Fi 6, both
address the acute need for advanced connectivity.
Each one boosts the bandwidth and capacity for both
today’s and tomorrow’s networks, and both are faster
than their predecessors (4G/LTE and Wi-Fi 5), more
energy-efficient, and capable of supporting a greater
number of devices simultaneously. How then can a
service provider know which one to pick in favor of
the other? The decision is not necessarily easy.

For any service provider in the process of comparing

the advantages of each option, it is advisable to consider
the following:

Reliability requirements of the traffic.

Critical low-latency requirements.
The need for mobility and outdoor wide-area connectivity.
A complete and future proof solution addressing current
and future needs.

Wi-Fi 6 is suited to indoor or local area While both 5G NR and Wi-Fi 6 serve a
deployments and use cases requiring high specific purpose well, they share over-
speed, and best-effort traffic. But since lapping territory in which they are viable
Wi-Fi operates on unlicensed spectrum, alternatives. That is, namely: in indoor use
its reliability and availability cannot be cases where reliable and predictable
guaranteed. In critical use cases requiring connectivity is not required.
highly reliable, low-latency connectivity
and/or wide-area deployment, 5G is the
best fit.
Ericsson  |  5G and Wi-Fi: Charting a path toward superior indoor connectivity 3

5G and Wi-Fi: both

have a role to play

With the arrival of every new generation support up to 12 simultaneous user the wide-area and indoor connectivity
of technology, the comparison of streams from a single Wi-Fi access point, needs of consumers, enterprises and the
3GPP and IEEE-based solutions 8x8 multiuser MIMO for both uplink and public sector alike.
have traditionally been a hot topic for downlink, and offers greater flexibility 5G NR has given dramatic capability
discussion. And the advent of 5G NR and to deploy channel sizes from 20MHz to boost to cellular communication
Wi-Fi 6 is no different. Both standards 160MHz, accommodating specific use- leveraging wide range of frequencies
are technologically superior to their case requirements. The addition of OFDMA (sub-1 GHz to 100 GHz) with very large
predecessors, and each has a role to play improves Wi-Fi performance, driving bandwidths, seamless carrier aggregation
in today’s and tomorrow’s networks. Each greater efficiency, and lower latencies across multiple bands, massive number of
technology has its strengths and selling in arenas, auditoriums, and other high- steerable antenna elements, flexible and
points, so there is a solid case for using density environments. Wi-Fi is certain to scalable physical layer for handling diverse
both as viable solutions. Rather than remain popular, providing last-hop access scenarios, ultra-lean design for energy
being regarded as competitors, we argue to wireless devices in people’s homes. efficiency,advanced critical MTC features
that the technologies should be viewed It will also continue to serve enterprises’ for ultra-reliability, ultra-low latency,
as co-existing solutions, each with plenty non-critical use cases effectively in mainly interruption-free mobility, and Time-
of benefits to offer, depending on the indoor deployments. Sensitive Networking (TSN), and fully
deployment situation. 5G, on the other hand, is a complete flexible end-to-end network slicing and
The boost given to Wi-Fi 6 in terms solution for enhanced mobile broadband QoS framework. With these capabilities,
of capacity, efficiency, and flexibility (eMBB), fixed wireless access (FWA), 5G NR is much more attractive technology
has aligned it with emerging 5G massive machine-type communication for addressing demanding indoor
priorities. Unlike its predecessor, Wi-Fi (M-MTC), and critical machine-type connectivity requirements than the earlier
5 (IEEE802.11ac), the standard can communication (C-MTC). It supports both generations of cellular systems.

What about spectrum?

5G technology makes use of a wide range of licensed frequency bands around
the world. A common technology platform across all the low, mid and high bands
is a vital advantage in providing a broad range of highly available and reliable
services. The unlicensed version of 5G, known as NR-U, will be able to additionally
utilize the 5 and 6GHz unlicensed frequency bands, again leveraging the
technology platform to opportunistically add capacity where needed.

Wi-Fi 6 uses the 2.4 and 5GHz unlicensed frequency bands, while Wi-Fi 6E
will add the new 6GHz band.

The use of 6GHz spectrum is currently under study in different parts of the world.
This spectrum is currently used by fixed links and other services. In the USA, the
Federal Communications Commission published a Report and Order in April 2020
opening the 5925 – 7125 MHz band for unlicensed use. Doing so adds 1,200MHz
of additional bandwidth for unlicensed technologies including Wi-Fi 6 and 5G
NR-U. In Europe, technical analysis is ongoing for 5925 – 6425 MHz, regarding
potential indoor use considering protection of incumbents and potential
application of geo-location databases.

One additional big advantage of (4G and) 5G technology is its ability to use
dedicated locally licensed spectrum for critical industrial digitalization and
applications. Many countries are considering dedicating spectrum for private
applications. Germany, for example, allocated local licensed spectrum in the
3700–3800 MHz range to industries for their applications in 2019, while Japan
announced the allocation of the 28 GHz band. Other countries, including France
and Italy, are looking at allocating spectrum to CSPs, who then ensure
availability for industries.
4 Ericsson  |  5G and Wi-Fi: Charting a path toward superior indoor connectivity

The benefits
of 5G NR and Wi-Fi 6

Both 5G and Wi-Fi 6 will have a role to play in the

delivery of indoor networks now and into the future.
The various advantages of each technology are
outlined below.

The benefits of 5G
When operating on licensed spectrum, 5G offers superior reliability and better
predictability to meet critical communication needs.

• 5G is designed to fulfill QoS requirements for • 5G has end-to-end specifications covering a

a much broader range of use cases than Wi-Fi complete system architecture, whereas Wi-Fi
(5G has full support for massive MTC, eMBB, specifies primarily layer 1 and layer 2.
critical IoT, TSN).
• 5G offers the combined merits of the mid-band
• 5G supports fully flexible end-to-end QoS and low-band for good coverage, and highband
differentiation with a single network. in mmWave for extreme capacity, low predictive
latency, and highly accurate positioning. Wi-Fi 6
• Rigorous device interoperability testing is limited to the mid-band and finite bandwidth
and certification process. per access point or device.

• A 5G system can also use unlicensed spectrum • Unlike Wi-Fi 6, 5G provides end-to-end security
to offload non-critical traffic. (Known as New Radio and global identity management.
Unlicensed or NR-U, this version of NR is part of
3GPP Release 16.)

• 5G provides both wide-area and local coverage

with full mobility, while Wi-Fi 6 is limited to local
coverage and more basic mobility.

The benefits of Wi-Fi 6

As a technology option, Wi-Fi has been far more widely adopted by non-smartphone
device manufacturers and is established in more ecosystems than 5G.

• Wi-Fi 6 modems are less expensive than their Enterprise IT integrators and procurement
5G counterparts. departments prefer Wi-Fi because:

• Deployment is often easy and requires limited • Wi-Fi competence is common.

technical competence (users can establish one
or a few access points themselves). • Relationships with vendors are well established.

• Some operating systems such as Apple iOS 13 • Users with data-limited packages are
prefer Wi-Fi over cellular, connecting the device accustomed to offloading to Wi-Fi.
to a nearby Wi-Fi network automatically.

• Available to all, Wi-Fi 6 (and NR-U) operates on

unlicensed spectrum. Usage rights are limited with
5G NR, which operates on licensed spectrum.
Ericsson  |  5G and Wi-Fi: Charting a path toward superior indoor connectivity 5

Total cost
of ownership (TCO)

In assessing previous generations of cellular and Wi-Fi

technology, we see that while the former has been
favorable for large-scale deployments, the latter has
been preferable for small-scale deployments. When
professionally installed and managed, a sizeable Wi-Fi 5
deployment is on a par with a 4G deployment in terms of
TCO. But OPEX is typically higher for Wi-Fi and CAPEX
higher for cellular.

An example of connectivity
cost for a connected warehouse

Wi-Fi is 22% higher Cost breakdown Cost breakdown

in total cost per square – Wi-Fi – Cellular
foot than cellular
Equipment and Product support, help Equipment and Product support, help
install (CAPEX) desk, onsite IT (OPEX) install (CAPEX) desk, onsite IT (OPEX)
Use case assumptions:
• Rectangular building 250,000ft2,
single floor, no significant walls or 43% 57%
of total cost. of total cost.
65% 35%
of total cost. of total cost.
other signal impediments.

• 1000 connected devices (average

throughput 80 Mbps) and low
numbers of users.
Based on the following equipment:
• High bandwith/low latency use Based on the following equipment:
160 Wi-Fi APs Wireless access controller
case based on connecting robots 10 PoE switches Server (network/user mgmt) 40 small cells vEPC distributed LTE core
in a pick/pack logics warehouse. Router Install, cabling, racks, etc HSS, router Install, cabling, racks, etc

Source: Ericsson Internal Studies, 2019

Besides assessing the monetary value of both wide area and local connectivity and With the reduced predictability of Wi-Fi 6,
every new technology, it is also essential to supports more use cases than Wi-Fi. Sev- service interruptions are to be expected,
compare the relative added value that each eral segments should, therefore, gain more and these, in turn, will lead to disturbances
delivers. For example, 5G on licensed spec- value from 5G than Wi-Fi 6 from a in production. Clearly, this should also be
trum offers superior reliability, can cover technology perspective. taken into account.
6 Ericsson  |  5G and Wi-Fi: Charting a path toward superior indoor connectivity

The security discussion

Wi-Fi is sufficiently secure for office and home use.

But 5G addresses a much larger security issue,
accounting for end-to-end security and global identity
management. This can largely be explained by the
specific way in which 5G is designed. 3GPP has always
considered the communication system as a whole,
making sure it works on a global scale for billions of
users. Resilience, privacy regulation, data protection,
encryption, interconnect, and access and core network
security are all covered.

Users’ demand for trustworthiness has Based on well-proven algorithms and authenticates the mobile network.
increased over time, causing security tightly coupled with a global identity There have also been secure solutions
requirements to evolve, and leading to the management infrastructure, authentication for storage and distribution of keys,
introduction of enhanced privacy protection is another of the mobile network’s major fulfilling regulatory requirements,
features in 5G. 5G also employs strong strengths. Since the age of 3G, the mobile and allowing international roaming.
security algorithms, traffic encryption, network has been able to authenticate
and protection of signaling and interfaces. the device, and the device, in turn,

A closer look at 5G security is the result of standardization,

product security, deployment, operations

5G and Wi-Fi and management, and incident-handling

capabilities: a highly beneficial coordinated
security approach to security.

Wi-Fi 6 uses Wi-Fi protected access 3 (WPA3) 5G can also interact securely with other
for security, which is an improvement on earlier network technologies such as Wi-Fi, being
WPA2. However, it has certain design flaws and a more generic solution for authentication.
vulnerabilities, allowing for different kinds of This allows users to connect over cellular
attacks. Security flaws have also been identified access and Wi-Fi within one framework
for Wi-Fi protected setup (WPS). in a secure way.
Ericsson  |  5G and Wi-Fi: Charting a path toward superior indoor connectivity 7

Conclusions

5G will play a larger role in future connectivity scenarios

5G NR supports more use cases than Wi-Fi 6, is more reliable, and provides both wide- and
local-area coverage with mobility. So many service providers will benefit from the added value
of 5G NR and the fact that ultimately, they get more for their money. 5G is also the best fit for
addressing emerging new IoT use cases.

Always consider the use case when making a technology decision

Wi-Fi 6 is certainly good enough to use in cases where best effort eMBB traffic is required in indoor local
areas. On the other hand, any use cases that require either outdoor deployments or are of a critical
nature with high reliability and low latency requirements – or a combination of both – demand licensed
spectrum and 5G.

Superior quality of service will be a game-changer

If there is a need for fine-grained service differentiation and superior quality of service levels,
Wi-Fi might not be the right choice. When buying off-the-shelf, 5G is the better choice since device testing
in this domain is more rigid, and protocol compliance is better than with Wi-Fi equipment.

This paper concludes that while Wi-Fi and cellular access technologies will continue to co-exist and
work together to deliver indoor connectivity across the globe, the decision between one or the other will
inevitably arise. In this case, we endeavor you to weigh the options and opinions in this paper and make
a sound judgment based on your unique set of circumstances.

Ericsson.com The content of this document is subject 1/287 01-FGB 101 0526 Uen
to revision without notice due to con- © Ericsson AB 2020
tinued progress in methodology, design
and manufacturing. Ericsson shall have
no liability for any error or damage of
any kind resulting from the use of this
document