5 Issues that impact Wi-Fi performance in dense environments

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Worldwide data and video traffic are growing at double-digit rates. This increase is driven by connected devices and applications like 4K video streaming, VR/AR and eSports. Adding to the complexity of this environment impacting Wi-Fi performance are diversifying device categories and apps, such as headless IoT devices, video and voice-over-Wi-Fi.

Moreover, the congestion of people, devices and bandwidth-hungry apps makes for numerous real-world challenges that conventional wireless technology has difficulty overcoming, especially in dense environments. Let’s take a closer look at some of these challenges below.

Overloaded network

Wi-Fi antennas often radiate signals – like a lightbulb radiates light – in all directions. This can create misdirected and wasted radio energy.

The solution? Ruckus BeamFlex+ technology, which enables the antenna system within a Ruckus access point (AP) to dynamically sense and optimize for its environment. The antenna system also significantly bolsters range and Wi-Fi performance by mitigating radio interference, as well as noise and wireless performance issues.

Too many devices

All access points use ‘lanes’ (radio channels) to transmit and receive traffic. However, a specific lane can become congested, leaving an AP unable to determine if other lanes are free to accommodate wireless traffic.

The solution? Ruckus ChannelFly dynamic channel management, which helps our APs boost Wi-Fi performance by dynamically (automatically) switching a client from a crowded channel to a less congested one.  

Wasted radio energy

Excessive management traffic typically saturates available Wi-Fi spectrum in dense Wi-Fi environments. This results in reduced connectivity and low per-client throughput.

The solution? Ruckus Airtime Decongestion, which enables APs to more selectively respond to clients. This dramatically increases overall network efficiency for higher airtime utilization and delivers a more optimized user experience.

Channel congestion

APs are frequently overloaded with an uneven client load in dense network environments. This inefficient utilization of network capacity results in a sub-optimal client-to-AP link quality and lower throughput for clients.

The solution? Ruckus Network Capacity Utilization, which employs real-time learning techniques to associate clients with APs that offer higher link quality and capacity. This mechanism facilitates higher overall network capacity and higher per-client throughput.

Unwanted management traffic

Thousands of non-connecting ‘transient’ devices – often in transport hubs – frequently create unwanted management traffic that negatively impacts Wi-Fi performance.

The solution? Ruckus Transient Client Management, which maintains throughput levels for priority clients in high transient-client environments by delaying AP association with low-priority transient clients.

Ruckus Networks helps deliver exceptional Wi-Fi experiences in high-density environments such as Public Venues and Smart Cities. Learn more about how Ruckus Networks is enabling Public Venues and Smart Cities.