Wireless fiber - the future in communications or an unrealistic dream?

Fiber optics is now perhaps the fastest technology for long-distance data transmission. Its only drawback is the need to build the network, with digging trenches and laying new cables included. However, new wireless technologies are emerging to provide the speed of fiber and the freedom of radio.

Fiber optic wireless

The technologies, which have been somewhat wishfully named "fiber optic wireless," are extensions of the numerous and popular IEEE 802.11 family, which also includes all versions of Wi-Fi. We're talking about the 802.11ad protocols (up to 2.16 Gbit/s) and its extension 802.11ay (four 802.11ad channels connected by bonding technology and four-channel MIMO), so you can theoretically get up to 176 Gbit/s. Both technologies use the 60 GHz band, which is not formally restricted (license to use) in most regions of the world. Unfortunately, the new technologies are not without their drawbacks, the biggest of which are limited range (up to several hundred meters) and the difficulty of penetrating obstacles (walls, vegetation).

Wireless Internet

Wireless Internet of nearly 200 Gbit/s is certainly a dream for both users and service providers, so it is to be expected that large-scale implementation of new technologies is a matter of time. However, in order to transmit the Internet so quickly with radio, wireless fiber would have to become widespread, and this will have to wait, as even the finalization of the 802.11ay technical specification itself has been delayed. While we wait, we can get used to gigabit speeds where FTTH (fiber to the home) is already available. Modern fiber optic routers are unlikely to differ much in terms of features from 802.11ay devices, and over time the concepts of WiFi fiber router will cease to exist separately, as their combination in a single, device will be taken for granted, like a car with air conditioning and power steering.