Abstract

IEEE 802.11ax-2019 will replace both IEEE 802.11n-2009 and IEEE 802.11ac-2013 as the next high-throughput Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) amendment. In this paper, we review the expected future WLAN scenarios and use-cases that justify the push for a new IEEE 802.11 amendment. Then, we overview a set of new technical features that may be included in this amendment and describe both their advantages and drawbacks. Finally, we discuss the list of network-level functionalities that are required to fully improve the user experience in next-generation WLANs and note their relation with other on-going IEEE 802.11 amendments such as the IEEE 802.11ai-2016, IEEE 802.11aq-2016 and IEEE 802.11ak-2017.

Introduction

IEEE 802.11 Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) [1] are a cost-efficient solution for wireless Internet access that can satisfy most current communication requirements in domestic, public and business scenarios.

Similar to other wireless technologies, WLANs have evolved by integrating the latest technological advances in the field as soon as they have become sufficiently mature. IEEE 802.11n-2009 adopted Single-user Multiple Input Multiple Output (SU-MIMO), channel bonding and packet aggregation. Those mechanisms were further extended in IEEE 802.11ac-2013, which also introduced Downlink Multi-user (MU) MIMO transmissions. These new features have improved the spectrum utilization efficiency and raw WLAN performance. In addition, new amendments such as the IEEE 802.11af-2013 and the IEEE 802.11ah-2017 are further expanding the application scenarios of WLANs, which include cognitive radio, long-range communication solutions, advanced power saving mechanisms, and support for Machine to Machine (M2M) devices.