Microsoft working on “Super Wi-Fi”

Data rates[edit]
The achievable data rate per spatial stream is 26.7 Mbit/s for 6 and 7 MHz channels and 35.6 Mbit/s for 8 MHz channels.[6] With four spatial streams and four bonded channels, the maximum data rate is 426.7 Mbit/s in 6 and 7 MHz channels and 568.9 Mbit/s for 8 MHz channels.[6]

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Fed by a fiber connection, the antenna connects wirelessly to two Wi-Fi access points near the International Fountain — about 600 and 700 feet to the northeast — using a slice of wireless spectrum previously reserved for television broadcasts. Those access points then distribute Wi-Fi to people nearby.

That distance between the antenna and the access points is several times farther than the reach of traditional Wi-Fi. In fact, given the opportunity, the signal could actually reach up to six miles or more, and penetrate buildings and walls in the process.

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For example, even though it travels long distances, it doesn’t necessarily translate into blazing fast speeds for users on the network. At Seattle Center, only two white spaces channels are currently available for Microsoft’s use, one for each of the two connected access points. That limits the speed and throughput.

In addition, everyday devices don’t yet operate on the 802.11af networking standard needed to receive a white spaces signal directly. So after coming in to the access points via white spaces, the signal at Seattle Center is then translated and broadcast from the two WiFi access points in the 802.11ac standard, compatible with today’s gadgets.

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Microsoft Wi-Fi Network at Seattle Center sees an average of 15,000 users connecting, according to the company, which is around 10 to 15 percent of overall visitors. Microsoft says users are seeing average speeds around 1.25 Mbps up and 5 Mbps down, with a speeds up to 10 Mbps down for those who log into their Microsoft accounts. Speeds are capped at 1 Mpbs for people who don’t log in, to help preserve network capacity, Microsoft says.

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The 2013 amendment to Wi-Fi is an air interface for “white space” frequencies (from 54 MHz to 698 MHz in the USA; Europe and the UK use a more realistic 490 to 790 MHz), with a maximum per-channel 35.6 Mbps (16 channels can be bonded together to get nearly 600 Mbps).http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/11/21/dlink_joins_hands_with_microsoft_to_give_super_wifi_a_push/

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