Wi-Fi is only getting better and stronger, 25 years after the technology debuted

Happy anniversary to Wi-Fi. It’s been 25 years since the technology debuted. And it is even more important and more popular today than it was when it was first created.

This technology has changed and improved over time. While Wi-Fi has become better, faster and stronger, it is not done. In fact, it is still coming on strong. Will that continue or will it be replaced?

Typically, new technology replaces tired old tech. Consider wireless vs. wire line telephone. Consider streaming vs. cable TV. Consider the record player to 8-Track to cassette to audio files you download and so on.

Not Wi-Fi. In fact, Wi-Fi is rare in that is keeps bucking the trend to be replaced.

There are assorted annual Wi-Fi conferences, which are even more important today than they were 25 years ago. Consider Wi-Fi Alliance, Wi-Fi World Congress, Mobile World Congress, CTIA Super Mobility Week, Tower and Small Cell Summit and more in the wireless, telecom and communications space.

Wi-Fi competitors like Broadcom, Nokia, HPE, Celona, Shabodi and more

It’s not that there aren’t challengers. There are. Plenty of them in fact.

One key challenger is the public wireless industry like those from networks like AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon. Another new and growing challenger is private wireless with all sorts of competitors, larger and small. Some of these include Broadcom AVGO , Nokia NOK , HPE HPE , Juniper Networks JNPR , Celona, FreedomFi, Shabodi and a growing number of other providers.

Private wireless often offers more than Wi-Fi in the way of exclusive access, speed, reach, security and more. However, these benefits come at a cost to the business customer. So, Wi-Fi is lower cost, but has fewer benefits compared to competitive services like private wireless, which cost more.

I believe we will see the private wireless space change as it matures moving forward. How will private wireless impact the Wi-Fi marketplace?

Private wireless is a new competitor, so we will just have to wait and see how the market share for Wi-Fi and private wireless shift over time.

All that being said, it is very interesting that while private wireless is a new offering, so far it has not replaced Wi-Fi. It just adds another slice of the pie to the marketplace.

Over the past 25 years, Wi-Fi has become a standard in wireless communications for data. And based on what we see so far, while new competition like private wireless is moving in, Wi-Fi is holding its own.

While I cannot say that newer competitors will not ultimately change the marketplace, so far, Wi-Fi is standing strong by continually upgrading and becoming better, faster and strong, year after year.

Read more: A solution to the wireless data spectrum shortage