Wireless internet gamechanger

Faster, cheaper Australian-made Wi-Fi could be the low latency upgrade you’re waiting for. Existing Wi-Fi systems are designed mainly for shorter communication ranges with high latency, making them unsuitable for mission-critical applications such as in underground mines.

To provide a solution, University of Sydney telecommunications researchers are “developing a safe and cost-effective technology that could be a wireless internet game-changer.”

“The Centre for IoT and Telecommunications researchers have designed long-range Wi-Fi systems for ultra-low latency and high data rates, which allow wireless signals to travel several kilometres while carrying more data without dropping out or experiencing lag.”

So, what does this mean for the future of Australian Wi-FiAustralian Wi-Fi, and how does latency affect everyday Australians? Let’s find out.

A brief history of Australian Wi-Fi

Before we dive in and look at how the current latency affects everyday Australians, it’s essential you know and understand the background of Australian Wi-Fi. For instance, did you know that Wi-Fi is an Australian invention? That’s right. Back in the 1990s, when there were no smartphones or other wireless devices, CSIRO scientists, Dr John O’Sullivan, Dr Terry Percival, Mr Diet Ostry, Mr Graham Daniels, and Mr John Deane, set to work and invented the Wi-Fi technology that we use today to connect globally.

What is latency, and how does it affect everyday Australians?

Have you ever found yourself waiting for what seems like a very long time for a web page to load?  This is latency. Latency, also known as ‘ping,’ is the time it takes for data to travel from one point to another and is usually measured in milliseconds. A good latency is usually 150 milliseconds and below. Combined with high-speed internet, you have the best of both worlds!

What causes high latency?

Several factors may cause high latency, some of which include:

• Internet service provider quality.
• The geographical location (distance).
• Internet connection type (DSL, cable, fibre, satellite).
• Content on a website (videos, images, ads).
• Your router (especially if it is old and doesn’t support your internet speed or if too many. people connect to it at the same time).

To solve some of the issues related to high latency you can consider

• Using an ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to the router.
• Upgrading your internet connection speed.
• Moving closer to your router.
• Close any bandwidth-heavy websites and programs you may have running, such as Netflix and YouTube.
• Replace your router. Old routers can affect connection strength and speed.
• Upgrade your broadband package to one that offers higher-speed internet.

How does latency affect user experience?

According to finder.com statistics, 75% of Australians spend an average of 4.4 hours shopping online. This excludes general browsing, gaming, and use for work. Other reports suggest that the daily time spent on the internet is just over six hours.

With so much internet usage, how does high latency affect everyday Australians? Well, for starters,

• Online shoppers abandon carts when the page loads too slowly, creating frustration for the consumer but also a loss for the business.
• Consumers may uninstall apps and switch to competitors.
• It creates delays and disruptions in daily tasks when working from home.
• It affects Google rankings for businesses as page load time is a huge factor in their SEO algorithm.

What the future of Australian Wi-Fi could look like with low latency

Over the years, Australian Wi-Fi has been prone to high latency and internet outages. However, the new research brings a ray of hope for cost-effective, long-range, low latency Wi-Fi possibilities for both the everyday Australian and mission-critical work. Once again changing and broadening the horizons of local, national, and international connectivity.

With products and services, such as Starlink, providing high-speed, low-latency broadband internet across the globe, we’re already one step closer to enjoying high data rate activities that have not yet been historically possible.

Contact Laminar for all your network solutions

We help our clients make sense of the complications with building, operating, and owning modern IT networking Infrastructure. As experts in wireless, cybersecurity, and networking, we’re here to help you. Contact our team on 1300 486 373.