Thanks to the development and application of standards, people worldwide can trust that the products, processes, and services they use are safer, more reliable, higher quality, and – in some cases – more ethical or sustainable.

How Standards Shape Our World

In everyday life, standards help ensure the safety of everything from the food we eat to the appliances, devices, and medical equipment we operate. Standards also guide energy management for improved efficiency and govern IT security practices to protect sensitive information.

The concept of standardization dates back to ancient civilizations, many of which created universal systems of weights, measures, and guidelines to support their trading activities. The world’s first formal standards organization, the National Standards Body, was established in London in 1901. Following the launch of the World Bank in 1944 and the founding of the United Nations in 1945, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) was officially created in 1947 to “establish international standards for goods and services, promote global cooperation, and enhance quality, safety, and efficiency” in the post-WWII era.

Streamlining Society and Business

Since then, standards have had an indelible impact on our lives – enhancing safety, promoting technological innovation, and streamlining global trade. Below are some interesting facts about global standards:

• The acronym “ISO” (associated with the International Organization for Standardization) comes from the Greek word “isos,” meaning “equal.”
• More than 100,000 standards are recognized in the U.S. alone, and over 30,000 international standards are acknowledged globally.
• Standards are foundational for a wide range of industries. Examples include:
  • Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) used in financial reporting
  • Common Core Standards in education
  • The National Electric Code (NEC) governing safe electrical installations in the U.S.
  • The International Energy Conservation Code regulating global energy usage
  • Bluetooth standards defining how wireless devices connect and communicate
  • HTML and CSS language standards regulating the architecture, look, and feel of web content
  • Even credit card sizes are standardized to ensure their compatibility worldwide!
• 14 October marks World Standards Day (founded by ISO in 1970), celebrating the importance of standards and those who develop them.

The Role of IEEE in the Standards Process

For over a century, the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE SA) has helped shape global technology. As one of the most respected standards organizations, IEEE collaborates with thought leaders in more than 160 countries to advance innovation, safety, and interoperability. Its portfolio includes more than 1,200 active standards, with another 1,000+ currently in development.

IEEE standards span a wide range of disciplines—telecommunications, IT, electric vehicles, smart grids, blockchain, electromagnetic compatibility, and more. By providing a framework for compliance and innovation, these standards empower professionals to develop reliable, forward-thinking technologies. 

IEEE: Your Expert Source on Standards

IEEE offers many informative standards-related courses across a diverse range of fields.

• IEEE 802.11ax: An Overview of High-Efficiency Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6) 
  This 6-hour course program examines the underlying technology behind the latest Wi-Fi 6 products and the 802.11ax standard, which is focused on achieving higher efficiency and improving the user experience.
• Introduction to IEEE Std 1547-2018: Connecting Distributed Energy Resources 
  This 6-hour course program reviews the interconnection testing and verification requirements included in the IEEE 1547 standard, requirements for interoperability and open access at the DER, and power quality issues associated with DER systems.
• AI Standards: Roadmap for Ethical and Responsible Digital Environments 
  This 5-hour course program offers a comprehensive approach to creating ethical and responsible digital ecosystems based on the principles of Honesty & Impartiality, Protection & Security, and Safe Disclosure & Privacy.
• IEEE Software and Systems Engineering Standards Used in Aerospace and Defense
  This 5-hour course program explores systems and software engineering concepts applicable to the Aerospace and Defense industries and covers such topics as the selection and application of appropriate IEEE standards for life cycle processes, solving complex issues through interrelated life cycle processes, and techniques for rapid but high quality delivery.
• NESC® 2023: National Electrical Safety Code
  This 7-hour course program educates power utility professionals on the rules, regulations, and changes in the 2023 edition of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and reviews such specific topics as supply station safety, grounding, and overhead and underground requirements.
• Software & Hardware Configuration Management in Systems Engineering
  This 5-hour course program reviews essential configuration management core concepts for both hardware and software, from the requirements specified in the IEEE 828 standard to best CM practices, modern CM approaches such as “Agile SCM,” and methods to assess and improve existing organizational CM practices.

Explore and enroll in IEEE standards courses today on the IEEE Learning Network. For institutional access, contact a specialist today!

If you’ve seen solar panels installed on rooftops or wind power being generated off the shores of coastal locales, use smart thermostats, electric vehicles and EV charging systems, fuel cells, or heat pumps, or participate in a local microgrid, then you’ve witnessed some examples of the use of distributed energy resources, also known as DERs.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), distributed energy resources involve “a variety of technologies that generate electricity at or near where it will be used” as opposed to relying on a more centralized power generation source. DERs support everything from single homes and businesses to huge industrial facilities, college campuses, and entire municipalities. (This is often through a microgrid that ties into a central electric utility’s local distribution lines). Based on their demonstrated ability to reduce electricity costs to ratepayers, improve power quality, reliability, and resiliency, engage in the “intelligent” process of two-way electricity flow, and help meet environmental and sustainability goals through their use of renewable energy sources, they’ve become increasingly popular.

Benefits of Distributed Energy Resources

Thanks to DERs, homes and businesses can reduce their dependence on the aging electric grid— portions of which are over a century old and in need of an upgrade. DERs also help minimize the risk of power outages that have risen in tandem with the growing frequency of severe storms and other natural disasters globally. At the same time, DERs offer greater control to end users by enabling them to generate the energy they need for their own use, sell it to the market, and/or modify their own energy demand.

As such, one doesn’t have to look far to see evidence of the growing market and demand for DERs worldwide. For instance:

• On the solar panel front, Fortune Business Insights predicts that the global solar power market will nearly double from US$254 billion in 2023 to US$437 billion by 2032.
• Statista projects that the market for global battery energy storage will grow from US$5 billion in 2023 to US$18 billion by 2030, an over three-fold increase.
• Electric cars, which represented just 2% of all vehicles globally in 2018, accounted for some 18% of all cars sold in 2023.
• Smart thermostat sales in the U.S. are expected to triple from roughly US$1.3 billion in 2022 to US$3.9 billion by 2029.

Growing Demand

The outlook for DERs continues to look bright, for many reasons. Declining initial price points are bolstering demand for these technologies. Additionally, federal support and funding through such legislation as America’s Inflation Reduction Act (enacted in August 2022) are driving demand for a range of DERs by providing financial rebates and incentives that encourage their adoption. Similarly, the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s Order No. 222 (issued in September 2020) will financially compensate the owners of groups of qualified DERs for the power and services they provide to the electric grid. According to the World Resources Institute, this incentive will “[create] a new long-term value stream for the people and entities using these resources.”

Similar actions have been undertaken around the world to help fuel the proliferation of DERs. In Europe, for instance, the ‘European Green Deal’ and ‘Clean Energy for all Europeans’ legislative initiatives are promoting the integration of renewable energy sources and DERs. The International Energy Agency confirms that DERs will be critical to the ongoing energy transformation in China.

Ultimately, experts confirm that the ongoing transition to DERs will promote a more reliable, energy-efficient, and equitable energy system worldwide.

Challenges Abound

While DERs offer many benefits, including the promise of greater resilience, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability, experts nonetheless confirm that there are also many challenges associated with their use.

Among them, the harmonious operation of these systems and devices will require significant investments in new power generation and storage technology. In addition, with so many small-scale DERs being activated at a decentralized level and on disparate platforms worldwide, experts at the World Resources Institute warn that integration of these devices with central power sources can trigger power quality, compatibility, and reliability issues that will require a greater degree of grid management to control.

For all of these reasons, there’s never been a greater need for IEEE Standard 1547, which is designed to ensure the interconnection, interoperability, and safety of DERs connected to the electric grid.

“Before the adoption of this standard, there were significant challenges in connecting renewable energy sources to the grid, as each technology had its own set of protocols and requirements,” explained Christopher Sanderson, energy storage industry expert and IEEE Senior Member. “The development of IEEE Standard 1547 has made it possible for different types of DERs to work together seamlessly, ensuring that electricity generated from various sources can be reliably, [safely], and efficiently distributed and integrated into the grid without causing disruptions.”

Navigate IEEE Standard 1547 Through a Targeted Course Program

Introduction to IEEE Standard 1547-2018: Connecting Distributed Energy Resources is a six-course program developed by IEEE to help train entire technical teams on how to best implement this important standard. The course program reviews testing, verification, and interoperability requirements. It also covers clauses and annexes of IEEE Standard 1547-2018, and power quality issues that can result from the interconnection of DERs with utility grids.

Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn more about getting access to this program for your organization.

Interested in access for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network (ILN).

Resources

Hurst, R.W. What is Distributed Generation? Distributed Energy Resources. The Electricity Forum.

Distributed Generation of Electricity and its Environmental Impacts. United States Environmental Protection Agency.

Richmond-Crosset, Kyle and Greene, Zachary. (30 September 2022). How Distributed Energy Resources Can Lower Power Bills, Raise Revenue in US Communities. World Resources Institute.

(May 2022). Unlocking the Potential of Distributed Energy Resources. International Energy Agency.

Ali, Junaid. (16 August 2024). The Future of Energy and Distributed Power. Forbes.

(5 August 2024). Solar Power Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Technology. Fortune Business Insights.

Sanderson, Christopher. (30 June 2024). The Power of Standards: How IEEE-1547 Shapes Our Energy Future. LinkedIn.

Will Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) Change How We Get Our Energy? European Parliament.

Prospects for Distributed Energy Systems in China. International Energy Agency.

Though it only just started, 2024 is already shaping up to be an active year marked by a number of dynamic tech trends that will have powerful impacts both today and in the future. With this in mind, it’s crucial to stay informed, be proactive, and invest in your own development to ensure that you’re able to bring the most current thinking and best engineering practices to your workplace and overall career.

Following are several top tech trends of 2024 (as shared by some of the industry’s most renowned experts), along with targeted and convenient course programs from IEEE to support your continuing education journey. Stay on top of the industry’s most prominent developments and let IEEE help you prepare for a productive 2024!

Data Privacy

According to a 2023 Pew Research Center study, 67% of those surveyed had “little to no understanding of what companies do with the data they collect about them”, and 81% reported being “concerned” about how that data is used. With personal data being regularly bought and sold by companies behind the scenes, the increasing collection and use of personal data by/through social media and artificial intelligence (AI), the growing threat of data breaches by hackers, and the current lack of standardized regulatory parameters around the collection and use of personal data, mechanisms to protect and secure data privacy continue to be of growing importance.

IEEE Resource: Protecting Privacy in the Digital Age (Four-Course Program)
Brought to you by IEEE Educational Activities in collaboration with IEEE Digital Privacy, this four-course program provides a framework on how to operationalize privacy in an organizational context, how to make it usable for end users, and how to address emerging technical challenges to protecting digital privacy. Learn More>>

Internet of Things (IoT) Security

As digital footprints continue to expand in today’s highly-connected society, the evolving landscape of internet-enabled devices, including connected lighting fixtures, voice-activated virtual assistants, doorbell cameras, and smart watches, cars, and refrigerators, “all serve as data-transferring endpoints in a system known as the Internet of Things,” said Brooke Becher of Built In. With 15 billion devices now connected to the Internet of Things worldwide and forecasted to double to 30 billion by 2030, the need to protect cloud-based, internet-connected hardware, and associated networks through IoT Security techniques has never been greater.

IEEE Resource: All About IoT Security (Six-Course Program)
Developed by IEEE Educational Activities with support from IEEE Internet of Things Technical Community, this six-course program is designed to provide learners with a broad overview of IoT security. It starts with challenges such as malware and botnets followed by vulnerabilities, network monitoring, setting up of testbeds, and application of blockchain in IoT security. Learn More>>

Energy Efficiency/Sustainability

Experts agree that the continued development of sustainable electricity sources will not only contribute to energy efficiency goals but ensure greater accessibility to energy worldwide. According to Liz Centoni, EVP, Chief Strategy Officer and General Manager, Applications at Cisco, “the fast-emerging category of energy networking, which combines the capabilities of software-defined networking and an electric power system made up of direct-current microgrids, will contribute to energy efficiency [and optimize] power usage, distribution, transmission, and storage.”

Microgrids (local, self-sufficient energy systems designed to support a defined community of users), as well as minigrids (smaller-scale microgrids designed to distribute electricity generated by such renewable sources as solar panels, wind turbines, battery storage, hydropower, and diesel generators), will be especially critical for the estimated 750-800 million people worldwide who currently have no access to electricity. Two-thirds of this number live in sub-Saharan Africa.

IEEE Resource: Minigrids in Africa (Four-Course Program)
In this training, learners will explore the context and roles for minigrids in Africa, as well as appropriate technologies, maintenance, sustainability, operational considerations for connecting to national grids, and regulatory and policy considerations. Learn More>>

High-Performance Computing

Though high-performance computing has been used for decades in academic and government settings, the recent proliferation in the quantity of data that’s become available and shared across an increasingly expanding number of hardware and software touchpoints is driving the demand for greater computing power. Thanks to the broad range of mission-critical applications for high-performance computing— including weather forecasting, healthcare/drug development, quantum mechanics, climate research, and more— experts confirm that there will be an ongoing need for data to be processed at incredibly high speeds of quadrillions of calculations per second and even faster.

IEEE Resource: High Performance Computing Technologies, Solutions to Exascale Systems, and Beyond (Five-Course Program)
This course program, developed in partnership with IEEE Future Directions, focuses on high-performance computing, how to address challenges and solutions in the Exascale era, the leading edge of HPC research, and more. Learn More>>

High-Efficiency Wi-Fi

According to telecom expert Shaun Carlson of Arvig, “the sixth generation of Wi-Fi networks— dubbed Wi-Fi 6 and technically known as [IEEE Standard] 802.11ax— promises major improvements in the capacity and capability of wireless networks” relative to the previous generation. Benefits of Wi-Fi 6 include up to 40% faster connectivity/speed for supported devices, increased network capacity through the use of multi-user, multiple-input, multiple-output (MU-MIMO) technology, and greater efficiency that conserves battery power. “As more Wi-Fi 6-certified devices hit the market – from routers to laptops and more,” said Carlson, “it’s a good time for businesses to consider how their networks can accommodate Wi-Fi 6.”

IEEE Resource: IEEE 802.11ax: An Overview of High-Efficiency Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6) (Two-Course Program)
In this training, learners will gain an overview of the features and optimizations introduced by IEEE 802.11ax to the Physical (PHY) and Medium Access Control (MAC) layers, which led to these improvements. Learn More>>

Configuration Management

The growing threat of cyber attacks involving ransomware, malware, computer worms, and other nefarious forms of software continues to rise to the point where an attack now occurs every 39 seconds at a cost of US$6 billion globally (and potentially over US$10 billion by 2025).  Experts report that 95% of cyber security breaches are a result of human error and the action of users who unknowingly view or interact with bad actors/sites and expose their system(s) to malicious code.  As a result, configuration management— an IT process that establishes configuration standards for each asset in a company’s network, automatically alerting business leaders of any issues that require updates, reconfiguration, or patches and promoting consistency across the network— is becoming an increasingly standard approach that companies are employing to reduce their vulnerability to cyber threats.

IEEE Resource: Software & Hardware Configuration Management in Systems Engineering (Five-Course Program)
Developed with the IEEE Computer Society, this course program teaches essential configuration management (CM) core concepts for both hardware and software starting with requirements specified in IEEE Standard 828. Learn More>>

Time-Sensitive Networking

Housed within the family of IEEE 802 Standards, time-sensitive networking enables data traffic of time-critical applications to be carried over a network shared by various kinds of applications. It is increasingly delivering the benefits of speed, accuracy, and reliability to a broad range of industries, from industrial automation and manufacturing to automotive and aerospace, telecommunications, entertainment, and more.

IEEE Resource: New Course on Time-Sensitive Networking!
Virtual Local Area Network Bridging with TSN Enhancements introduces the components of network architecture that play a vital role in time-sensitive networking (TSN), and which provide the tools needed by network architects to properly architect networks to support the delivery of data for time-sensitive applications. Learn More>>

 

Resources

Law, Marcus.  (20 December 2023).  Top 10: Technology Trends for 2024. Technology.

(8 January 2024). 20 Tech Experts on The Tools And Trends That Will Dominate 2024. Forbes.

Cozzi, Laura, Wetzel, Daniel, Tonolo, Gianluca, and Hyppolite II, Jacob. (3 November 2022). For the First Time in Decades, the Number of People Without Access to Electricity is Set to Increase in 2022. International Energy Agency.

Mcclain, Colleen, Faverio, Michelle, Anderson, Monica, and Park, Eugenie. (18 October 2023). How Americans View Data Privacy. Pew Research Center.

Vailshery, Lionel Sujay. (27 July 2023). Number of Internet of Things (IoT) Connected Devices Worldwide from 2019 To 2023, With Forecasts from 2022 to 2030. Statista.

Becher, Brooke. (5 October 2023). IoT Security: What It Is and Why It’s Important. Built In.

Carlson, Shaun/Arvig.  (26 April 2022). Wi-Fi 6 is Here: The 3 Biggest Advantages of Upgrading Your Business Network. Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal.

Boskamp, Elie. (15 June 2023). 30 Crucial Cybersecurity Statistics [2023]: Data, Trends and More. Zippia.

(1 August 2022). What Is Configuration Management and Why Is It Important? UpGuard.

Most connected users worldwide have at some point experienced the agony and frustration of a slow wireless network. However, speeds are increasing thanks to IEEE Standard 802.11ax and its impact on business and society as we know it.

Officially certified in 2020, IEEE 802.11ax, also known as “Wi-Fi 6,” delivers throughput per user via wireless LAN (WLAN) technology that’s four times faster than the preceding Wi-Fi standard. (IEEE 802.11ac, known as “Wi-Fi 5”, was introduced in 2013.) Offering increased bandwidth, more efficient use of channels and router technology, the ability to conserve power through a proactive “Target Wake Time” feature, and updated data encryption capabilities, IEEE Standard 802.11ax is poised to significantly enhance the speed and reliability of wireless networks.

Over the last several years, wireless connections have especially suffered in high-density environments where large numbers of devices are connected to a network. The increased adoption of internet-connected devices worldwide contributes to the growth of such environments. Furthermore, advances in technology have driven more companies to modernize their wireless networks. Those trends are only expected to continue, with research firm Markets and Market Data projecting the global Wi-Fi market to rise from US$12.3 billion to US$31.3 billion in value by 2027.

High Efficiency, Reliable Wi-Fi is Critical to Industries Across the Board

In our current global Wi-Fi landscape that continues to both expand rapidly and advance technologically, the need for speed and high efficiency is more imperative than ever to industries of all kinds. Check out these examples.

According to a recent study by The International Association of Conference Centres (IACC), nearly 60% of meeting planners surveyed claimed that they wouldn’t prioritize a venue unless they had a guarantee of internet performance.

Thanks to the adoption of Wi-Fi 6, airports will no longer struggle to reconfigure their networks when travelers download content, check emails, and otherwise overload the building’s wireless network just prior to boarding their flight.

In the automotive industry, Wi-Fi 6 will more quickly and comprehensively generate telematic data on engine performance, breaking and steering systems, real-time traffic conditions, and the use of such features as surround-view cameras and roadside assistance. This will allow car manufacturers to enhance safety features and tailor service packages for drivers. Additionally, car repairs can get underway faster. Wi-Fi 6 will enable car dealers and repair shops to connect wirelessly to a vehicle’s on-board diagnostics, identify problems remotely, and prepare a repair estimate even before a customer comes into the shop. Wi-Fi 6 will also be a boon for in-car ‘infotainment,’ as it will support the real-time speed required for streaming content.

In the healthcare arena, the use of telemedicine rose precipitously during the pandemic. Many medical practitioners and patients continue to use it. At the same time, more medical devices (such as x-ray and MRI machines) are going wireless, which will place additional data demands on wireless networks. With Wi-Fi 6, healthcare facilities operating such equipment remotely will be able to transmit data with greater speed and reliability, place mission-critical equipment on a different band, and better optimize their wireless capabilities.

Manufacturing and logistics companies with Wi-Fi 6 capabilities can run diagnostics and maintenance on equipment remotely and reduce costly downtime in the manufacturing, supply chain, quality control, and distribution functions.

Additional uses are areas such as the educational and the defense industries. In both these sectors, training in “real-life” situations is often conducted in simulated settings for safety and/or cost reasons, Wi-Fi 6 can enable greater access to in-depth, real-world simulations for training purposes.

Wi-Fi 6 Expectations

The bottom line?

In an economy where the speed and quality of network connections can drive the user experience and ultimately dictate a company’s success, Wi-Fi 6 holds promise in a variety of fields. Global consultant Deloitte states that W-Fi 6 will be “indispensable to the future of enterprise connectivity” across all connected industries.

Are You Up to Speed on Wi-Fi 6?

The course program, IEEE 802.11ax: An Overview of High-Efficiency Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6), takes learners on the latest step in a journey of continuous innovation in wireless local area networks (LAN) standards. In it, expert instructors discuss IEEE Standard 802.11ax, the underlying technology of the latest Wi-Fi 6 products.

Unlike previous amendments (e.g., IEEE Standard 802.11ac and IEEE Standard 802.11n), which were focused mainly on increasing the peak throughput, 802.11ax focuses on achieving Higher Efficiency (HE) and improving metrics that reflect user experience, such as average throughput per station. This was achieved by better physical layer efficiency and spectrum utilization, flexible multi-access and scheduled transmission schemes, increasing the spatial reuse, and improving interference management between neighboring networks, particularly in dense environments.

This training provides an overview of the features and optimizations introduced by IEEE 802.11ax to the Physical (PHY) and Medium Access Control (MAC) layers. The first part of the program focuses on the PHY layer, and the second part focuses on the MAC layer.

Resources:

What Is 802.11ac? Cisco.

Badman, Lee. What’s the difference between 802.11ac vs. 802.11ax? Tech Target.

Serrano, Jesus. (4 January 2023). 6 WiFi Trends to Watch Out For in 2023. Galgus.

Kerravala, Zeus. (11 October 2021). Why Businesses Need to Upgrade And Modernize Their Wi-Fi Networks. Forbes.

Wi-Fi 6 Industry Impact Report. Qualcomm.

Tang, Kevin. (16 February 2022). Wi-Fi is Essential for Driving Automotive Transformation. Wi-Fi Alliance.

(29 September 2022.) Telehealth in the Pandemic—How Has It Changed Health Care Delivery in Medicaid and Medicare? U.S. Government Accountability Office.

Dohnalek, Mark. (18 June 2021). Wi-Fi 6: What it Means and Why it Matters for New Product Development. Supply Chain Management Review.

Hupfer, Susanne. Bucaille, Ariane. Mazumder, Sayantani. Westcott, Kevin. (1 December 2021). Wi-Fi 6: Unsung, Underexposed—and Indispensable to the Future of Enterprise Connectivity. Deloitte Insights.

Wi-Fi has been around for over 20 years. With each new generation, the world has seen remarkable gains in wireless performance, connectivity, and user experience. Wi-Fi 6E is a game-changing version of Wi-Fi that brings the technology to the 6 GHz frequency band. Past articles have outlined the technical differences between the IEEE standards known widely as Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac) and Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax), as well as the improvements made for Wi-Fi 6E.  While Wi-Fi 6E is faster than previous versions (9.6 Gbps versus 3.5 Gbps on Wi-Fi 5), it isn’t all about speed. The real value of Wi-Fi 6 will be its ability to improve the network when many devices are connected.

When Wi-Fi 5 came out, the average U.S. household had an average of five Wi-Fi devices. Today, homes have nine Wi-Fi devices on average. Experts predict this number to jump to nearly 50 Wi-Fi devices within several years, according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Wi-Fi 6 will alleviate the issues of connecting dozens of Wi-Fi devices on a single network. An essential feature of Wi-Fi 6E is that it lets routers communicate with more devices at once, send data to multiple devices in the same broadcast, and allows Wi-Fi devices to schedule check-ins with the router. In addition to being faster with more device capacity, Wi-Fi 6 can improve the battery life of devices while also having a better security protocol.

IoT is Fueling Wireless Growth

By 2025, it is predicted there will be 55.7 billion connected devices worldwide, 75% of which will be connected to an Internet of Things (IoT) platform. The wireless connectivity market is poised to reach US$157 billion by 2027, driven by wearable devices, smart home technology, and cloud service models, all working with IoT devices. While it has been challenging to meet the connectivity demands of IoT in the past, Wi-Fi 6 offers a potential solution. By extending Wi-Fi operation into the 6 GHz band, Wi-Fi 6 can support industrial IoT devices around the globe with high bandwidth, low power, and low latency capabilities.

Wi-Fi 6 and 5G Are Not the Same, But Work Together

It is important to note that some of the featured improvements of Wi-Fi 6 are similar to the emerging 5G cellular standard improvements. Though both standards employ some of the same features, they are different technologies (wireless LAN versus cellular) built for different uses. According to Network World, Wi-Fi is best suited for indoor applications in dense, high-volume environments. While Wi-Fi can work outdoors, 5G is designed to seamlessly offer cell phone coverage as you use your phone’s GPS while driving or check your email while on public transportation. As most smartphones will have both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G built-in, the two technologies will work together to support different use cases across industries.

Wi-Fi 6 Impact on Industry

Wi-Fi 6E extends the capacity, efficiency, coverage, and performance benefits of Wi-Fi 6 and offers incredible value to companies. With Wi-Fi expected to contribute nearly US$5 trillion to the global economy by 2025, more than 2.3 billion Wi-Fi 6 products and 350 million Wi-Fi 6E products entered the market in 2022. According to independent market research firms TechKnowledge Strategies and FeibusTech, Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E will offer more bandwidth, greater performance, and compelling user experiences:

• Public Wi-Fi: Venues and providers recognize the potential of Wi-Fi 6 and are working on next-generation applications. Demand is high for Wi-Fi 6 in public venues like airports, stadiums, university campuses, and high-density apartment complexes. Several pilot deployments of Wi-Fi 6 are addressing financial transactions at stadium settings, resolving incidents with minimum disruption at airports via Wi-Fi 6 security cameras, and making video calling smooth without buffering in public settings.
• Home: Wi-Fi 6 routers will improve wireless performance for many situations, including homes with smart home devices (like thermostats and security cameras) or older devices slowing the network, as well as households with streaming difficulties or many neighbors nearby, all of which will have their own routers and collections of devices. FeibusTech forecasts that Wi-Fi 6 will also spark a revolution in the smart home. Virtual assistants, like Amazon Alexa and Google Voice, could have far more processing power and storage available on Wi-Fi 6.
• Enterprise: Overall, the transition to Wi-Fi 6 in enterprise deployments is expected to be more of an evolutionary story. However, CIOs and other IT decision-makers who opt for full-spec Wi-Fi 6 solutions, such as Qualcomm’s Pro platform, can plan for up to 1,500 devices connecting effortlessly on a single access point. Several companies are getting into the arena early. For example, cloud-based applications like Skype and WebEx running on laptop and smartphone apps might have us saying goodbye to traditional desktop phones. Ruckus and Lenovo are making educational applications for students using VR goggles, where Wi-Fi 6 will be critical.
• Automotive: Wi-Fi 6 could be used to revolutionize the automotive market. For autonomous cars, vehicle-to-vehicle communication could be used to prevent accidents and speed up stop-and-go traffic. Likewise, vehicle-to-infrastructure can improve traffic flow at stop lights. In-car entertainment will get a boost from both Wi-Fi 6 and 5G. This combination will offer real-time responsiveness for streaming. Additionally, automobile dealers will be able to connect wirelessly to vehicles’ onboard diagnostics as customers enter the service area. This would help cut wait times and increase the capacity of the service department.

Preparing for Wi-Fi 6— Are You Ready?

Wi-Fi 6 will bring immediate benefits in network speed, capacity, and responsiveness to the global market. Such benefits will allow for new applications in virtually every segment.

Learn more in IEEE 802.11ax: An Overview of High Efficiency Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6) Part One and Part Two. Join us for this live virtual course program on 21 and 22 February from 12-3pm ET. It will provide an overview of the features and optimizations introduced by IEEE 802.11ax to the physical and medium access control layers. Purchase this course program by 17 February for the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the instructors.

Can’t make the live sessions? Purchasers will have access to the on-demand version of the course program. See more details>>

 

Resources

Cisco. (2022). 5 things to know about Wi-Fi 6/6E and Private 5G. Cisco.

Kastrenakes, Jacob. (21 February 2019). Wi-Fi 6: is it really that much faster? The Verge.

Research and Markets. (28 November 2022). Wireless and Fixed Connectivity Market Report 2022. BusinessWire. 

Robinson, Kevin. (21 March 2022). Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E: The key to IoT. Wi-Fi Alliance. 

TechKnowledge Strategies. (2019). Wi-Fi 6 Industry Impact Report. Qualcomm.

Telecom. (10 November 2022). Value of Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi Alliance.

Weinberg, Neal. (24 May 2022). What is Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), and why do we need it? Network World.

Energy grids provide electricity to millions of homes and businesses via a complex and vulnerable network of power plants, transmission lines, and distribution centers. Ensuring the grids run as intended is a priority for all who work in the power and energy sector. As innovative technologies, new opportunities, and safety issues arise, the National Electrical Safety Code® (NESC®) evolves to address concerns. The latest edition, NESC 2023, protects both the public and utility workers, as it is the authoritative code for ensuring the continued practical safeguarding of utility facilities.

Prevailing Threats & Projections

As the growing number and severity of extreme weather events make headlines worldwide, utilities are wisely focused on grid resiliency. Power outages triggered by major storms have doubled in the past twenty years and experts at Colorado State University predict an above average 2022 storm season with 19 hurricanes. 

Also this year, the number of cyber security risks to critical infrastructure have escalated—disrupting or compromising our lives by taking down nuclear, energy, financial, or technology sectors. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, even a short-lived attack on the power grid could cause substantial interruptions to security systems and important lines of communication. 

One of the largest frontiers in the power and energy field today is the development and implementation of smart grid technology and clean energy. The smart grid market is projected to grow US$103.4 billion by 2026, as governments around the world have imposed several supportive policies and mandates that focus on implementing smart grids and spreading awareness about energy conservation. 

According to an article from the Union of Concerned Scientists, removing barriers to energy storage is key to a clean energy future. Having enough energy storage will help support the massive number of renewables that will be added to the grid in the coming decades.

Highlights of NESC 2023

Published by IEEE SA and updated every five years to stay current with changes in the industry and technology, the NESC specifies best practices to safeguard the electric supply and communication utility systems at both public and private utilities. The NESC is continuously evolving to embrace new technologies, and the Code reflects potential impact of recent and emerging technologies. 

Notable changes to the 2023 NESC include:

• Significant revisions covering batteries, addressing new battery technologies, energy storage, and backup power.
• A new section for photovoltaic generating stations with rules to accommodate large-scale solar power projects.
• The Code further clarifies the use of non-hazardous fiber optic cables.

“The 2023 NESC includes updates throughout, many of which address emerging technologies such as solar and wind energy, distributed energy/microgrids, batteries and energy storage, and wireless small cell networks,” said Nelson Bingel, chair of the NESC Committee.

Stay Current with NESC 2023

Help your company to comply with the latest guidelines. The NESC® 2023: National Electrical Safety Code training is a complete seven-course program NESC program online through IEEE Xplore and on IEEE Learning Network. This course series aims to educate power utility professionals on the rules, regulations, and changes in the 2023 edition of the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC). Presented by industry leaders who helped write the standard, this course program takes an in-depth look at the NESC and covers the Code in its entirety.

Connect with an IEEE Content Specialist today to learn more about this program and how to get access to it for your organization.

Interested in the program for yourself? Visit the IEEE Learning Network.

Resources

BusinessWire. (3 August 2022). IEEE Publishes 2023 National Electrical Safety Code. BusinessWire.

Certec Corporation. (15 August 2022). The importance of critical infrastructure protection in the energy sector. Power Engineering.

Copeland, Mark. (1 August 2022). Innovating Grid Resilience from the Outside In. PowerMag.

 MarketsandMarkets Research Pvt. Ltd. (18 August 2022). Smart Grid Market Size Projected to Grow $103.4 Billion by 2026 | at a CAGR of 19.1%. GlobeNewswire.

Pereira, Guillermo. (17 August 2022). Removing Barriers to Energy Storage is Key to a Clean Energy Future. Union of Concerned Scientists.

The new wireless networking standard 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) delivers enhanced wireless technology in dense environments where it can more effectively overcome interference from cells on the same channel. An even newer version of Wi-Fi 6, dubbed “Wi-Fi 6 Extended” (Wi-Fi 6E), could deliver even better service.

As Jerry Jackson in PC Mag reports, Wi-Fi 6E provides faster speeds and lower latencies than Wi-Fi 6 and earlier versions. At the time of announcement, the IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6) standard “was limited by law to a wireless spectrum that only covered the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands”. These 2.4GHz bands have just three non-overlapping channels— meaning you, your household, and your neighbors, all share bandwidth.

Since multiple devices are competing for bandwidth, signals are often lost. However, after the Federal Communications Commission unanimously voted to make the 6GHz band available for unlicensed use in April 2020, significantly more airwaves opened, which routers can use to broadcast Wi-Fi signals.

Hence, Wi-Fi 6E expands on Wi-Fi 6 to cover 6GHz frequency.

“The opening of the 6GHz band is the biggest spectrum addition to Wi-Fi since 1989,” writes Jackson. “The jump from 5GHz to 6GHz might not sound like much, but it essentially quadruples the amount of airwaves (14 additional 80MHz channels, and seven additional 160MHz channels) available for routers and smart devices. That means less signal interference.”

What Are the Technical Benefits of Wi-Fi 6?

Wi-Fi 6 is expected to bring a number of technical benefits that will “enable use cases beyond what is possible today,” states Tim Pohlmann, CEO of IP Analytics, an IP intelligence tool. According to Pohlmann, these benefits will include: 

• Connected venues and cities: Wi-Fi 6 BSS Colouring technology will guarantee resistance to interference— even in public places with a high density of devices such as event venues and universities. With its larger bandwidth, Wi-Fi 6 can deliver consistent real-time data exchange while allowing thousands of people to connect.
• Connected cars: Wi-Fi 6 enables larger bandwidth that will let vehicles exchange real-time information. Furthermore, Wi-Fi 6’s target wake time (TWT) feature allows for lower battery consumption. This means Wi-Fi sensors in traffic lights or buildings will only “wake up” when needed.
• Connected factories: Wi-Fi 6 technologies OFDMA and MU-MIMO will support “more IoT devices to operate unimpeded on the network, and thus means that millions of machine components can be connected and real-time data points operated at low-power consumption.”
• Connected homes: Wi-Fi 6 enables 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz to operate at the same time, delivering high bandwidth and low latency for high-definition video systems, augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR) devices, high-quality streaming platforms used for, conference video calls and gaming.

“Wi-Fi 6 will likely become the dominant access choice for indoor networks on account of improvements in speed, latency and higher density of connected devices,” states Pohlmann. “It is also the ideal system in spaces where access points will serve more users.”

However, he notes that Wi-Fi 6 must exist alongside 5G to support “use cases at home, while driving, at the office, outside or when working remotely.” While many argue that Wi-Fi 6 and 5G will be competitors, Pohlmann believes that they will work in tandem and complement each other in many applications. Furthermore, it is unlikely that a sole technology would support all connectivity.

Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6 Extended are still developing. However, the ability to overcome service issues in high-density environments will undoubtedly spur advancement. 

Improving Quality of Experience with IEEE Std 802.11ax™

The work on High Efficiency Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) in IEEE Std 802.11ax™ started in 2013 as a new amendment to the IEEE 802.11 WLAN standard. A goal of the new amendment is to address dense deployments characterized by a large number of access points and stations placed in close proximity in a limited geographical area. Such usage scenarios impact the quality of experience (QoE) for latency-sensitive applications such as voice-over-Wi-Fi™ and video conferencing.

Learn More About Wi-Fi 6

Enroll in our upcoming live two-course program, IEEE 802.11ax: An Overview of High Efficiency Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi 6), which will provide an overview of the features and optimizations introduced by IEEE 802.11ax to the physical (PHY) and medium access control (MAC) layers, which lead to the improvements in Wi-Fi. Purchase this course program by 17 February for the opportunity to ask questions and interact with the instructors. Part One will take place on 21 Feb from 12-3pm ET, and Part Two will take place at the same time on the following day.

Plus, check out this on-demand virtual event from IEEE Educational Activities and IEEE Standards Association that describes new IEEE 802.11ax features such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access and Uplink multi-user transmissions together with Physical (PHY) and Medium Access Control (MAC) enhancements specific to IEEE 802.11ax to improve QoE.  Watch now!

Resources

Jackson, Jerry. (7 October 2021). What Is Wi-Fi 6E? PC Mag. 

Pohlmann, Tim. (2021). Who’s ahead in the WiFi 6 patent race. I am. 

One of the biggest frontiers in electrical engineering today is the development and implementation of smart grid technology. Fueled by the global demand for greener technologies and alternative fuels, environmentally-friendly smart grid technology has the ability to stimulate stagnated economies and change the way power is delivered to electricity consumers around the world.

Smart grid technology combines existing electrical infrastructure with digital technologies and advanced application to provide much more efficient, reliable and cost-effective energy distribution. It’s a merger of power systems, information technology, telecommunications, switchgear and local power generation, along with other fields. As these separate technologies become merged, new safety considerations must be taken into account.

Ever since the days of Thomas Edison, people have been concerned with the safety of electrical devices. As innovative technologies and new opportunities and safety issues arise, the National Electrical Safety Code® (NESC®) evolves to address any and all concerns.

As Technology Advances, So Does the NESC

As plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and full electric vehicles (EVs) replace gasoline-only burning vehicles, public parking lots will need to be equipped with outdoor charging stations, including pay-for-use charging stations. These stations will integrate technologies such as electrical metering, switching, information technology, telecommunications and currency handling technology.

Safety comes into play in making the charging station terminals safe for unskilled drivers to use, guarding against intentional access to hazardous voltages, as well as in protecting communication circuits. This may mean putting telecommunication protectors at each end of a campus-run communication conductor where an exposure to lightning or to accidental contact with electric power conductors exists.

Vehicle charging stations are just one example of how advances in technology lead to NESC updates.

Stay on Top of the NESC

The safety of utility-owned smart grid equipment within power generation or transmission circuits, up to and including the service conductors to customer buildings, will to continue to be evaluated for safety in accordance with basic utility safety standards or codes, including NESC.

To help your company prepare to comply with the latest safety guidelines, IEEE offers a complete seven-course NESC program online through IEEE Xplore :

• Introduction to the National Electrical Safety Code
• Changes to the NESC 2017 Edition
• Introduction to Grounding
• Work Rules for the Operation of Electric Supply and Communications Lines and Equipment
• Rules for Installation and Maintenance of Electric Supply Stations
• NEW! Safety Rules of the Installation and Maintenance of Underground Electric Supply
• NEW! Safety Rules for Installation and Maintenance of Overhead Electric Supply

Order the complete program today and stay on top of the critical tech issues affecting the industry.

Resources

Gies, Don. (1 Mar 2014). Safety Considerations for Smart Grid Technology Equipment. In Compliance.

You may not even be aware of it, but we use standards every day. In industries from communications and media, to healthcare, construction, energy and more, standards help ensure safety, reliability and environmental care, and contribute to the enhancement of our daily lives.

Standards are published documents that establish specifications and procedures designed to ensure the reliability of the materials, products, methods, and/or services people use every day. In engineering and technology industries, technical standards establish uniform engineering or technical criteria, methods, processes and practices developed through an accredited consensus process.

Using Standards All Day, Every Day

Providing a common global language for product development, standards make it possible for cell phones to communicate with each other anywhere in the world, for bank cards to fit into any cash machine, for consumers to buy a light bulb for just about any lamp in any store, and for them to be able to plug that lamp into an electrical outlet.

Standards are everywhere and play an important role in the economy. They provide:

• Safety and reliability. Users perceive standardized products and services as dependable, which raises user confidence, increases sales and grows technology acceptance.
• Government policy and legislative support. Regulators and legislators refer to standards to protect user and business interests.
• Compatibility and interoperability. When products and services comply with standards, devices work together.
• Business benefits, such as market access, economies of scale and innovation.
• Consumer choice. Standards provide the fundamental building blocks for product development and make it easier to understand and compare competing products. Mass production based on standards provides a greater variety of accessible products to consumers.

To learn more about technical standards and standards development, check out Mars Space Colony: A Game of Standardization. It’s the first standards development simulation game, crafted by experts with 20+ years’ experience in high-stakes, real-world technical standards development.

Resources

(14 October 2015). Imagine a world without standards. Touchstone.

Why we need standards. ETSI.