First Field Test Begins for Japan’s Next-Generation Wi-Fi Standard IEEE 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6®)

CommScope and Wire and Wireless aim to provide high performance Wi-Fi 6® service

September 24, 2019 HICKORY, NC

TOKYO, JAPAN, 25 September, 2019— Ruckus Networks (now part of CommScope via acquisition) and Wire and Wireless Co., Ltd. (Wi2) today announced that they have started the first field tests¹ of the next-generation Wi-Fi standard, Wi-Fi 6® (802.11ax), in retail environments² across Japan.

Wi-Fi 6 will deliver improved speed and performance, addressing the increasingly prominent issue of network loading due to heavy bandwidth use, while also enabling high-speed mobile telecommunications even when large numbers of users are connected simultaneously.

"At Wire and Wireless, we are constantly working to further improve our signal quality in order to provide everyone who uses our services with a great connection at all times. The views and requests that many of our customers have shared with us have guided our efforts to define and achieve a standard of quality that meets their needs, as well as our strategies for building upon that standard,“ said Tadashi Egawa, Director and Chief Technologist, Wi². “Having the opportunity to use products from Ruckus that support the latest Wi-Fi standard has given us a great deal of confidence that we will be able to take on the challenge of further improving our signal quality. We look forward to being able to deliver even greater satisfaction to our customers in the near future.”

The trial³ aims to address the needs of tens of thousands of users across Japan who may attempt to connect to Wi-Fi simultaneously through their mobile devices. Wi-Fi 6 technology addresses the ever-increasing strain being put on networks with increased speed and improved performance. People accessing free Wi-Fi in restaurants and other public venues will be among those who could potentially benefit from the high-speed connectivity and lower latency.

The field test will utilize the Ruckus R730 Indoor access point (AP), the Ruckus ICX 7150 series switch, and the Ruckus SmartZone 300 Controller.

CommScope and Wi2 are working together to develop upgraded services that will lead the way in providing users with the best and most stable connectivity possible at all times, while also being flexible enough to handle changes in conditions and the ongoing evolution of technology.

“We are excited to partner with Wi2 once again for the first Wi-Fi 6 field tests across Japan,” said Gary Newbold, Vice President, Enterprise, Asia Pacific, CommScope. “This is a significant milestone and we are committed to bringing high-quality Wi-Fi connectivity to enable the best user experience.”

Wi-Fi device shipments are expected to reach nearly 35 billion units by 2022 according to ABI Research.

¹The first field test by a commercial wireless LAN provider for free Wi-Fi service using Wi-Fi 6 at a brick-and-mortar retail store in Japan. Test conducted by Wire and Wireless.
²With the cooperation of Welcome Co., Ltd., the equipment will be deployed at DEAN & DELUCA Café at the Tokyo College of Music, Naka-meguro/Daikanyama Campus.
³During initial testing, network access is limited to service provider staff (Wi², Ruckus).

About CommScope

CommScope (NASDAQ: COMM) and the recently acquired ARRIS and Ruckus Networks are redefining tomorrow by shaping the future of wired and wireless communications. Our combined global team of employees, innovators and technologists have empowered customers in all regions of the world to anticipate what's next and push the boundaries of what's possible. Discover more at www.commscope.com.