WLAN
technology falls naturally into the domain of the IT and network company and it
is these businesses that are most active in deploying WLAN solutions. The telecoms channel reseller has made very
little impact in this market. This is despite
WLAN infrastructure being the ideal upsell for the channel which, by its
nature, has established connections in the target customer base, strong
installation skills, and sells the Wi-Fi endpoints that are growing in
popularity with hospitality, healthcare and other customers.
The reticence to offer WLAN infrastructure may be down to a lack of knowledge about the technologies and hence an unwillingness to introduce the solution during a sale. To help channel partners that want to extend their portfolio into this lucrative market ICON offers training in the technology and whenever possible supports them through the sale and deployment of the solution.
The reticence to offer WLAN infrastructure may be down to a lack of knowledge about the technologies and hence an unwillingness to introduce the solution during a sale. To help channel partners that want to extend their portfolio into this lucrative market ICON offers training in the technology and whenever possible supports them through the sale and deployment of the solution.
The biggest selling applications
For
ICON Voice over Wi-Fi is the biggest application for wireless networks. This is followed by the IIoT type solutions offered
by our vendor partners Mulitone, BlueSky Wireless, and Fusion which link a
buildings BMS to the maintenance team and service staff. Pre-notification of fire alerts is a major
requirement in the hospitality sector.
Things to look out for
Amongst other things deploying a WLAN is about matching
the WLAN technology to the BYOD environment.
In many case wireless providers don’t do this. The result is a poor Wi-Fi experience characterised
by difficulty login on, slow data rates, and loss of connectivity.
For a successful deployment the wireless provider must
be aware of the type of BOYD environment it is provisioning – and we are not
talking 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz or 802.11xx. It’s
more fundamental than that. It’s about
how the BYOD clients will be used.
At
ICON we recognise three BYOD environments.
There is the high-density of connections/high-volume of simultaneous-logons
environment typically found in schools, sports arenas, and entertainment
venues.
Second is the high-volume of managed connections environment most often found in hotels.
Finally, there is the environment in which the BYOD clients roam and run connection sensitive applications. The classic example is a voice over Wi-Fi solution. Other equally important examples include Wi-Fi connected AGVs or roaming devices running real-time Wi-Fi connected applications often found in warehouse and logistics.
Second is the high-volume of managed connections environment most often found in hotels.
Finally, there is the environment in which the BYOD clients roam and run connection sensitive applications. The classic example is a voice over Wi-Fi solution. Other equally important examples include Wi-Fi connected AGVs or roaming devices running real-time Wi-Fi connected applications often found in warehouse and logistics.
Unless the wireless provider is aware of the of BYOD environment
it is working with it won’t be able to provision it with the right WLAN
infrastructure. It’s not about choosing
which manufacturers access points and controllers to use. It’s about knowing
when to deploy the traditional Wi-Fi infrastructure technology as provided by major
vendors such as 4ipnet and when to deploy the patented “Blanket” technology
developed by Extricom and now owned by Allied Telisis.
Most vendors, even the majors, support only one technology. ICON is one of the few companies which supplies both the “Blanket” Wi-Fi infrastructure from Extricom - Allied Telisis and a traditional Wi-Fi infrastructure from 4ipnet and supports and trains it partners in selecting and deploying both infrastructure solutions.
Most vendors, even the majors, support only one technology. ICON is one of the few companies which supplies both the “Blanket” Wi-Fi infrastructure from Extricom - Allied Telisis and a traditional Wi-Fi infrastructure from 4ipnet and supports and trains it partners in selecting and deploying both infrastructure solutions.
The impact of 4G on the wireless market?
Deploying 4G connectivity to run and access
applications is a valid solution for staff who work off-site, but for on-site
staff and in-building connectivity to IIoT applications and voice services it
does not work.
Issues of in-building coverage and access to UC productivity tools means 4G based solutions are not competitive against WLAN networks for in-building service provision.
Also, you may be happy to give a Wi-Fi device
to a janitor, but would you give them the latest 4G device - probably not. Additionally 4G usually means consumer grade
handset/endpoint solutions that are not appropriate for the workplace.
In a recent deployment, the National Theatre opted for a WLAN solution for its mobile voice communications because of, amongst other things, the reliability of network connectivity within the building and the availability of workplace friendly Spectralink handset devices that, because of their proven reliability and cost, could be justified to be given to a large number of staff.
Issues of in-building coverage and access to UC productivity tools means 4G based solutions are not competitive against WLAN networks for in-building service provision.
Also, you may be happy to give a Wi-Fi device
to a janitor, but would you give them the latest 4G device - probably not. Additionally 4G usually means consumer grade
handset/endpoint solutions that are not appropriate for the workplace. In a recent deployment, the National Theatre opted for a WLAN solution for its mobile voice communications because of, amongst other things, the reliability of network connectivity within the building and the availability of workplace friendly Spectralink handset devices that, because of their proven reliability and cost, could be justified to be given to a large number of staff.
