Wi-Fi versus 5G: It’s a hot topic of discussion of late.

While some pit the two technologies against each other, many experts say that this “clash of titans” idea is fueled by hype and a fundamental misunderstanding of how the technologies work (and their strengths, weaknesses, pros and cons).

“There really isn't going to be a winner,” said David D. Coleman, director of technology at Extreme Networks. “They’re likely going to coexist and complement each other over time.”

Wi-Fi: Ingrained in communication culture

Wi-Fi — now in its sixth iteration — was first introduced in the late 1990s and is known for its speed, low cost, scalability, throughput and flexibility. Its global market share is expected to hit $31.3 billion by 2027, representing a still robust CAGR of more than 20% over 2022.

According to Verizon, the introduction of Wi-Fi-6 includes features to improve performance, reliability, roaming and throughput. It is also designed to extend device battery life, to allow more devices per router and to work more optimally in dense or congested environments.

Plus it’s simply what we’re all used to using for wireless communications.

“It's the primary access technology that we use as far as indoor wireless in all enterprise verticals,” said Coleman. “It’s ingrained in everyday communication culture.”

5G: Sparkly and new

5G, by contrast, is “the new kid on the block,” said Coleman.

He pointed out that it’s important to understand what 5G means for enterprise. While technically the same as public macro 5G accessed via smartphones and other devices, private 5G networks are what they sound: Private. That is, they are nonpublic and can be licensed, unlicensed or shared.

According to IDC, 5G is a custom form-fitted connectivity tool, “apart from some of the generalized, or one-size-fits-all, telecom offerings.” Enterprises expect full integration of the technology — as opposed to an overlay or silo — that is downsized for private use, has flexible consumption models and offers unified service management and advanced policy management.

IDC points out that there is also an increased focus on deploying private 5G as a local area network (LAN) tool for industrial IoT use cases.

Private 5G tends to be more resilient and robust, said Coleman, and most useful in areas where coverage, speed and security capabilities are required beyond those offered by Wi-Fi and other network technologies.

Another of 5G’s biggest strengths is its range. When long distances are involved, Wi-Fi isn’t the best bet, says Gartner VP analyst Tim Zimmerman.

“Wi-Fi is a very good indoor solution largely because of the ability to exceed Ethernet-like speeds,”he said. “The area where it's a little more difficult to have Wi-Fi is outside.”

Private 5G has better mobility than Wi-Fi and an edge when it comes to outdoor use, Coleman agreed. Also, security is much stronger because private networks are built from the ground up.

Emerging 5G use cases

For now, 5G is best-suited for infrastructure-intensive, often geographically remote industries including manufacturing, oil and gas, mining and energy and utility, experts note. These early adopters are using the technology to improve productivity and power data collection and real-time monitoring.

Private 5G is “emerging as a viable option for many commercial enterprises,” said Zimmerman, “largely because of the lack of coverage in the areas where enterprises need it.”

Indeed, the technology is clearly gaining traction: The 5G market size is anticipated to hit $36.08 billion by 2030, representing a CAGR of more than 51% over 2023. Many top providers including Nokia, Amazon, Kyndryl, Sierra Wireless, Cisco and others are laying claim to that.

“Private has a use case,” said Zimmerman. “For larger areas, vertical markets, it's a great solution. And it's one where commercial cellular would fit, but [providers] don't want to go there — yet.”

Issues with private 5G’s cost, complexity

Private 5G comes with a hefty price tag, although those costs are starting to come down.. Consider the hardware alone: If enterprises replace Wi-Fi with private 5G, they not only have to invest in the infrastructure, but replace or upgrade all devices, too.

This is the primary concern of his clients, Coleman said. They want to understand costs of initial setup, deployment and maintenance to future-proof themselves and determine strategy and ROI.

Ultimately, private 5G brings a higher level of complexity.

“Wi-Fi is a more mature technology,” said Coleman. It’s easier to use and manage and there are many providers highly skilled in design and deployment. “There are not a lot that know how to do that yet with private 5G.”

Undoubtedly, private 5G is still in its early stages — although from a wider lens some experts are already talking about 6G — and many thought the technology would be further along by now, Coleman noted.

“It's entering enterprises a little slower than anticipated,” he said, although “it definitely is catching on.”

As with anything, the integration of private 5G into additional devices “just takes time,” said Zimmerman, pointing to certification and testing requirements. He also noted that another potential alternative is emerging: low-entry orbit satellites. These can also provide internet connectivity in remote areas.

5G and Wi-Fi will work in tandem

Back to the “who will win” question: Coleman said there’s a lot of over-marketing and hype around what 5G can do, which “blurs the conversation.” Also, there’s still confusion on the difference between private and public 5G, and much education that needs to occur around the technology.

Ultimately, he pointed out, the benefits of Wi-Fi are actually some of the weaknesses of 5G.

“In reality there’s not that much comparison to them,” said Coleman. “Private 5G and Wi-Fi balance each other out.”

“Over time they will complement each other. A lot of enterprises will use both technologies. Eventually we will see a convergence.”

For instance, management tools will allow enterprises to control Wi-Fi, private 5G and wired networks together, likely through a cloud-based platform. Access policies will also likely converge, with the same rules applied to both technologies.

User experience will also blend if the two technologies are implemented correctly. “Because at the end of the day, the average employee doesn't really care how they access the corporate network, they just want that to be seamless, frictionless and pleasant,” said Coleman.

And while there’s evidence of private 5G use going up, “what we don't see is Wi-Fi going down.”

In fact, the FCC has adopted new rules for the 6 GHz band, opening up  1200 new megahertz of frequency space for “unlicensed indoor lower power access points,” according to the agency.  The FCC reported that those access points “will be ideal for connecting devices in homes and businesses.”

This is double the available spectrum over the last 20 years, Coleman said. “It’s the biggest thing to happen to Wi-Fi in a long time. It will be a big driver of Wi-Fi in the enterprise.”

As the two technologies work in tandem going forward, artificial intelligence (AI) will also play a role in networking when it comes to enhancing efficiency and supporting more advanced troubleshooting techniques and anomaly detection.

As for Gartner’s Zimmerman’s thoughts on 5G beating out Wi-Fi? He promptly responded: “Yeah, that's not gonna happen.”