Is Your Home Network Ready for Tomorrow's Speeds?
Over the past two decades, the concept of the ‘home network’ has undergone a radical transformation. From simple dial-up connections to broadband, Wi-Fi and now advanced mesh systems, we’ve come a long way. But with the exponential growth in the number of connected devices per household and the rise of bandwidth-intensive applications such as 4K/8K streaming, online gaming and smart home technologies, are today’s home networks fit for the future?
At the heart of a home network is the router, the device that distributes Internet connectivity to various devices in the home. Many households are still using routers that were installed years ago, often using outdated Wi-Fi standards like 802.11n that simply weren’t designed for the modern, device-saturated home.
The latest Wi-Fi 6 standard, also known as 802.11ax, offers significantly faster speeds and better performance in dense network environments, as well as improved power efficiency for devices. But the transition to Wi-Fi 6 is more than just buying a new router; it requires a holistic overhaul of your entire home network.
How do we prepare our home networks for the future?
- Hardware upgrade: Invest in routers that support Wi-Fi 6 or 7. This is crucial for supporting faster speeds and a greater number of connected devices.
- Network topology: Consider mesh networks for larger homes to eliminate “dead zones” and ensure consistent coverage.
- Advanced security: With the increasing cybersecurity threats, it is essential to have a network that supports advanced security protocols such as WPA3.
- Cabling: For ultimate speed and stability, consider wired connections for stationary devices such as desktop computers, televisions and gaming consoles. CAT6 or CAT7 Ethernet cables can support the speeds and bandwidth that future fiber connections will offer.
- service provider: Make sure your internet plan and the speed your provider offers match what your home network can handle. Gigabit internet speeds are becoming the norm, and your network needs to be able to take advantage of them.
- Device management: It’s not just the network that needs to upgrade; your devices need to be compatible too to take advantage of these speeds. This could mean new laptops, smartphones and other devices.
Conclusion
Today’s home network must be built with the future in mind. Bringing our connectivity up to speed is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. The question is not if we should upgrade our home networks, but when and how. Let’s lead the networking revolution on the horizon and prepare our homes for the future of connectivity.