10 Networking Technologies That Will Shape the Future

You’ve probably heard talk of how our networks will change as a result of 5G, edge computing, and AI. But what will actually influence how we interact and communicate over the coming years? Be prepared for some significant updates that will increase networking’s speed, intelligence, and reach. Our digital infrastructure enabling technologies are developing at a warp-speed rate. The way networks are created and used will undergo significant change over the next few years. We’re talking about holographic telepresence, self-driving networks, and networking technologies that are seamlessly integrated into our surroundings and attire. Do you consider that to be science fiction? Reconsider your position. The future is here and it will drastically alter how we relate to one another and the environment. The upcoming wave of networking innovation has the potential to be the most revolutionary yet. The following list of ten networking technologies will influence the future. The Rise of 5G Networks

The way we live and work is going to change because of the arrival of the fifth generation of cellular networks, or 5G. Data rates on 5G networks will be up to 100 times quicker than on existing 4G LTE networks. This paves the way for nearly immediate HD movie downloads, lag-free video calls, and the ability to power cutting-edge innovations like self-driving automobiles.

Higher frequency radio waves that can send more data simultaneously are how 5G operates. The drawback is that these signals can’t penetrate structures and only cover small distances. Carriers are mounting tens of thousands of tiny cell sites on structures like utility poles, streetlights, and buildings as a workaround. The same radio frequencies can subsequently be used by these densified networks to improve bandwidth.

Some of the benefits of 5G include:

• Lightning fast downloads and streaming with little buffering. You’ll be able to download full-length movies in seconds.
• Virtually no latency which enables real-time communication and control. This will allow remote surgery, autonomous vehicles, smart cities, and more.
• Massive connectivity for billions of devices. 5G can connect many more devices at once for smart homes, industrial automation, and smart agriculture.
• Reliability and precision. 5G has been engineered to provide consistently fast speeds and connect many devices with tight synchronization.

The 5G revolution is rapidly approaching. In 2019 and 2020, major carriers began deploying 5G in a few places, with larger coverage being available over the following few years. Prepare yourself for unprecedented internet connectivity and speeds because the future is almost here. For many years to come, the development of 5G networks will influence how we work and live.

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 Take Center Stage

In the last ten years, Wi-Fi technology has advanced considerably. The faster speeds, lower latency, and more capacity of the upcoming Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 protocols are poised to influence our connected future.

The most recent upgrade, Wi-Fi 6, commonly known as 802.11ax, is now accessible for the majority of new routers and devices. With maximum speeds of 9.6 gigabits per second, it offers noticeably higher throughput and is almost 3 times quicker than the previous generation. Due to Wi-Fi 6’s increased efficiency, more users and smart home devices may connect without latency or buffering.

Future Wi-Fi 7 standard is expected to offer even better performance and connectivity. Wi-Fi 7 will enable new features including high-resolution video streaming, virtual reality, and cloud gaming on many devices with minimal latency thanks to peak speeds of at least 30 gigabits per second. For more data compression per transmission, higher frequencies and more effective modulation are used.

Some additional benefits of these new Wi-Fi versions are:

• Improved battery life for connected devices since they can transmit data quicker and go idle sooner.
• Stronger, more reliable coverage since the networks can focus signals to where they’re needed most.
• Backward compatibility so your newer devices can still connect to older Wi-Fi networks when Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 7 isn’t available.

Fast, intelligent, and equipped to manage our increasingly linked world, networking is the way of the future. Leading the path to that reality are Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7. These new standards can’t come fast enough with an increasing amount of Wi-Fi capable gadgets in our homes and communities.

Growth of Smart Home Networks

The rapid adoption of smart home devices is fueling the growth of home networks. As more of your appliances, lighting, heating, and security systems get connected, your home network has to handle all the data. Several key technologies are making this possible.

Wi-Fi 6

Wi-Fi 6, the most recent Wi-Fi standard, offers faster speeds, more bandwidth, and enables more concurrently connected devices. This means that when you add more smart speakers, thermostats, doorbells, and the like, your smart home network won’t become clogged. Mesh networks and Wi-Fi 6 routers are perfect for smart homes.

Mesh Networks

Mesh networks employ numerous access points dispersed all throughout your house to provide quick, seamless coverage. Your devices automatically connect to the strongest signal as you go from room to room. This avoids dead spots and guarantees that all of your smart gadgets are connected. Google WiFi, Netgear Orbi, and Linksys Velop are well-known mesh network manufacturers.

Smart Hubs

All of your smart gadgets are controlled by a central hub in your smart home. It enables you to connect devices that are incompatible with one another, create automatic procedures, and manage everything from a single location. Manage a high-tech smart home network more easily with smart hubs like Google Home Hub, Hubitat Elevation, and Samsung SmartThings.

Although the expansion of networks for smart homes is exciting, it may also be daunting. Concentrate on progressively introducing new hardware, starting with a reliable Wi-Fi router or mesh network to maintain consistent connectivity all around your home. Using a smart hub can save headaches as your system grows. Keep an eye out for emerging technologies that will eventually make your network quicker and smarter, such as Wi-Fi 6. Home networking has a promising future.

Advancements in Software-Defined Networking

Network construction and management are changing as a result of software-defined networking (SDN). As a result of SDN’s decoupling of network control and forwarding duties, network control is now directly programmable, and the underlying infrastructure is now isolated from network services and application programs.

Centralized Control

In a traditional network, the control plane (which determines how data flows through the network) is distributed across multiple network devices. SDN centralizes the control plane in software, so the network can be programmed and managed centrally. This allows for:

• Dynamic network configuration: Network administrators can quickly configure, manage, secure, and optimize network resources via software.
• Improved network control: Admins have a centralized view of the network, so they can implement tighter controls and security policies.
• Reduced complexity: With fewer devices to manage individually, SDN simplifies network design and operation.

Abstraction and Virtualization

SDN allows you to abstract the underlying network infrastructure from the applications and services running on top of it. This means you can deploy network services and applications without worrying about the physical components underneath. Some examples include:

-Network virtualization: You can virtualize network components like switches, routers, and firewalls, allowing multiple virtual networks to operate over a single physical network.

-Service chaining: SDN lets you stitch together multiple network services (like firewalls, load balancers, etc.) into a service chain to deliver a complete networking solution. These services can be physical, virtual, or a mix of both.

SDN is enabling networks to become far more flexible, agile, and easier to manage. As SDN technologies continue to advance, networks will become more automated, application-centric, and suited to the needs of digital businesses. The future of networking is software, and SDN is helping to make that future a reality.

AI and Network Automation Accelerate

Network automation tools powered by AI are accelerating the deployment and management of networks. As networks become more complex, AI and automation are critical to efficiently operate and troubleshoot issues.

Several AI technologies are enabling network automation:

• Machine learning algorithms can detect network anomalies and vulnerabilities, then recommend solutions to engineers. ML models need lots of data to learn, so they benefit from the huge amounts of telemetry in modern networks.
• Chatbots and virtual network assistants can handle basic network provisioning and troubleshooting tasks. They can respond to common questions and requests from network engineers and operators.
• Robotic process automation (RPA) uses software bots to automate highly repetitive network management tasks like configuration backups, log file analysis, and report generation. RPA bots follow predefined rules and processes to complete routine tasks faster and more accurately than humans.
• Intent-based networking relies on AI to translate business needs into network configurations. Rather than network engineer’s manually programming devices, they specify the desired intent or outcome. AI then determines how to configure the network to meet that intent. This makes networks more agile and responsive to changing business needs.
• AIOps platforms use big data, analytics, and ML to enhance network monitoring, management, and automation. They can detect patterns across huge volumes of network data to predict, prevent, and fix network issues. AIOps also provides insights to optimize network performance and security.

Significant advancements in network agility, security, scalability, and cost reduction will be made possible by AI and network automation. AI may be necessary in order to fully realize the potential of next-generation networking technologies as networks become faster and more complex. Even if automation will change the function of network engineers, their knowledge will still be required to guide the development of AI systems and guarantee the best network performance.

Conclusion

So there you have it: 10 networking technologies that are going to change the way we communicate, work together, and complete tasks by 2023 and beyond. Artificial intelligence, software, and wireless technology are the trends of the future. These technologies are quickly moving from the realm of science fiction to the realm of science. Future networks will have self-driving, self-configuring, and self-optimizing capabilities. Despite all the fancy new technology, networking still centers on people connecting with one another. Human relationships and trust will always be at the core of excellent business and partnerships, regardless of how sophisticated the tools grow. Although the future is intriguing, success ultimately depends on maintaining a strong human connection. How will you strengthen your contacts with the help of these new technologies? If you have the vision and the drive to make your dreams a reality, the possibilities are limitless.