What is mmWave?
The term "millimeter-wave (mmWave)" has garnered mainstream media attention since Apple announced its very first 5G iPhones: the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. They all offer access to mmWave networks at least within the United States. Described as "super-fast" and "ultra-fast" by mainstream media, mmWave is now the absolute golden standard for wireless communications devices in terms of not only speed but also user experience.
So just how fast is mmWave? Wireless communications devices, such as smartphones and our VisionShare, transmit over the air using electromagnetic radio frequencies organized into different bands. Some of these bands, such as mmWave, have more capacity than others. In short, mmWave wavelengths operates between 30 GHz 300 GHz, also known as the extremely high frequency (EHF) band by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
As for speed, let us think in terms of gigabit per second, often abbreviated as Gbps. 1 Gbps is 1000x faster than today's megabits per second (Mbps). According to Tom's Guide, speeds of mmWave technology can go fast as surpassing the 1 Gbps mark. Recent mmWave field tests on the commercial US cellular network even demonstrated sustained peak speeds over 2 Gbps at a distance of 7 km.
Use case: presentations and meetings inside conference rooms
You might wonder how come mmWave was not widely deployed in mainstream, consumer-grade devices until the iPhone 12 portfolio came along, given the high speed of this technology. The reason is there is often a trade-off for a great technology and the case of mmWave is no exception. While today’s mmWave networks are ultra-fast, they are also ultra-short range.
Also, mmWave spectrum does not penetrate through doors, windows, trees, and walls. Some may label such characteristics as shortcomings, at NorthVision, we beg to differ. Whether or not a technology is suitable for a use case, it highly depends on the nature of the use case, which in this case, would be presentations and meetings inside conference rooms, where the short range of mmWave becomes an advantage like no other.
In most conference rooms, the distance between the screen and a VisionShare system usually stays within 15 to 20 meters. Any technology with a range longer than that would be an overkill and unnecessary for the use case of a conference room. In the professional opinion of a facility manager and an IT network engineer, the range provided by mmWave is not too long or too short. It is exactly right and fitting for conference rooms.
Confidentiality of the presentation materials is extremely important to organizations, such as military and financial institutions, which have turned to NorthVision for the highest security standard we hold, due to the fact that mmWave does not travel through doors, windows or walls inside conference rooms. Content protection is not an option but an uncompromised necessity. Organizations who choose not to invest in network security always end up paying so much more after.
Last, but not least, mmWave is best known for its blazing fast speed, which guarantees zero latency or delay during any presentation. Meetings are supposed to be short n’ sweet with the least amount of hassle possible, which our competitors fail to deliver as they continue to require users to not only download third-party apps to power the system but also connect to consumer-grade Wi-Fi with heavy congestion. VisionShare’s mmWave is the only connectivity best suited for meeting rooms.
Seeing is believing
At NorthVision, we take pride in delivering what we promise, but no need to just take our words for it without testing out a VisionShare. The power of mmWave in our solution is far greater and stronger than a user experiences what the technology has to offer. Whether you are a distributor interested in reselling our products or representing an organization looking to upgrade your meeting rooms, we have a free trial available for you to evaluate a sample unit or two. Contact us now!
Comments