Entebbe, Uganda | By Michael Wandati | In anticipation of the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) and Group of 77+China summits, the Government of Uganda has announced significant improvements to internet connectivity at Entebbe International Airport, aiming to enhance user experience.
Dr. Aminah Zawedde, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance, revealed on Tuesday 14, November 2023 that Entebbe International Airport has undergone an upgrade to Wi-Fi 6, also known as 802.11ax, a high-speed wireless LAN (Local Area Network) protocol and the latest generation of Wi-Fi technology designed to ensure efficient functionality of networked devices even in congested environments.
“We are now certain and sure of efficient connectivity at the airport,” she stated. She went on to say, “We are not only connecting the airport but also areas of the summit, including Munyonyo, and upgrading it to Wi-Fi 6 as well.”
Addressing specific locations around the Uganda Media Centre, she highlighted plans for improvements, ensuring a robust link to facilitate seamless proceedings, particularly during live broadcasts. “We expect that we shall not have breaks in transmission during the live coverages,” she assured.
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Dr. Zawedde also emphasized the cybersecurity aspect of the upgrades, noting that specialists would enhance the systems’ security to the highest firewall level. Speaking at the Kampala Serena Hotel during a Media Breakfast Meeting, she provided insights into Uganda’s preparations for the forthcoming NAM and G77 Conference.
“We have conducted awareness training for organizers and continue to sensitize all entities involved in the organization, including the media,” she stated. Additionally, she disclosed the sponsorship of two websites for the NAM and G77 summits, fortified with advanced web firewall applications to ensure the security of all content.
The NAM summit is scheduled to take place from January 15 to 20 at Speke Resort Hotel in Munyonyo. Following that, the G77 summit (Third South Summit) is set for January 21 to 23, focusing on the themes; “Depending Cooperation for Shared Global Affluence” and “Leaving No One Behind.”
Here are some key features and aspects why you should upgrade to Wi-Fi 6:
- Improved speed and capacity: Wi-Fi 6 is designed to provide faster data transfer speeds and increased capacity compared to its predecessor, Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac). It achieves this through technologies like Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) and Basic Service Set (BSS) Coloring.
- Higher throughput: An upgrade to Wi-Fi 6 can deliver higher throughput, making it more efficient in handling multiple devices simultaneously. This is particularly beneficial in environments with a high density of connected devices, such as crowded public spaces or smart homes.
- Better performance in crowded areas: OFDMA allows Wi-Fi 6 to divide channels into smaller sub-channels, enabling more simultaneous data transmissions. This is especially useful in crowded areas where many devices are competing for network resources.
- Improved range: While the primary focus of Wi-Fi 6 is on increased speed and capacity, it also includes enhancements that can lead to better performance at longer distances.
- Target Wake Time (TWT): Wi-Fi 6 introduces Target Wake Time, which allows devices to schedule when and how often they wake up to communicate with the router. This helps in extending the battery life of devices, such as IoT devices and smartphones.
- MU-MIMO (Multi-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output): Wi-Fi 6 builds on MU-MIMO technology, allowing routers to communicate with multiple devices simultaneously. In Wi-Fi 6, MU-MIMO is expanded to include both downlink and uplink communications.
- Backward compatibility: Wi-Fi 6 is backward compatible with previous Wi-Fi standards, so devices that support earlier standards can still connect to a Wi-Fi 6 router. However, to fully benefit from Wi-Fi 6 features, both the router and the device need to support the standard.
- Wider frequency range: Wi-Fi 6 operates in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands, similar to previous Wi-Fi standards, but it also introduces support for the 6 GHz frequency band in some regions.
