This article has been provided courtesy of NCTA – The Internet & Television Association
Wi-Fi has become the backbone of American connectivity, powering everything from work and education to entertainment and smart home devices.
A new survey by NCTA and Morning Consult highlights how essential Wi-Fi is today and why consumers support action to expand spectrum access for Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi powers modern digital life, and its role is only growing. From streaming and video calls to smart homes and telehealth, and all the innovations to come in the future, Wi-Fi connects nearly every technology in daily life. But Wi-Fi doesn’t work without spectrum.
Americans depend on Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is the primary connection point for most Americans, enabling fast and reliable access to the digital world and carrying nearly 90% of all data traffic flowing over consumer smartphones. The survey shows that:
- Nearly 9 in 10 Americans (87%) connect their smartphones to Wi-Fi at home.
- Laptops, tablets, and smart TVs/streaming devices (64%) are also widely used over Wi-Fi.
Consumers also report high levels of satisfaction with their home Wi-Fi performance powering everything from smart TVs and devices to laptops and gaming consoles:
- 89% say they are satisfied, with 58% very satisfied.
The future of Wi-Fi requires more spectrum
While today’s Wi-Fi is meeting demand, concerns about future performance are rising as more connected devices enter the market and bandwidth-intensive applications grow. 65% of Americans worry that limited spectrum availability could lead to slower or less reliable Wi-Fi.
This is why Americans overwhelmingly support government action to expand Wi-Fi spectrum.
- 79% believe it’s important for policymakers to allocate more spectrum to support growing demand and ensure Wi-Fi remains fast and reliable.
A smart spectrum strategy is key to Wi-Fi’s future
As more devices come online and data usage soars, the availability of spectrum will determine whether Wi-Fi can keep up with demand or if Americans will face slower speeds and less reliable connections. The best way to keep Wi-Fi strong in the coming years is for policymakers to recognize the key role that unlicensed spectrum plays and will play in promoting freedom and powering economic growth and to make spectrum decisions that will allow consumers to bank on Wi-Fi’s continued growth.
With innovative approaches to coexistence that can enable the continuation of government’s wireless needs while accommodating Wi-Fi’s expansion, policymakers have an opportunity to embrace a future reliant on ‘win-win’ solutions that can accommodate different uses in the same limited airwaves.
By embarking on this path forward, the U.S. can expand commercial access to spectrum while keeping up with the growing need for fast, reliable wireless connectivity today and in the future.