Overview
With the introduction of 802.11ac and the
promise of gigabit Wi-Fi, it seems to be, at
least theoretically, possible to simultaneously
stream multiple HD quality videos over the
Wi-Fi network. This opens up opportunities
for cable operators and their customers to
distribute cable video to subscriber devices
throughout the homes over Wi-Fi networks.
This provides an attractive value-add to both
MSOs and their customers.
In this paper, our goal is to evaluate the
feasibility of using Wi-Fi for wireless
distribution of HD quality cable video under
different circumstances or configurations.
Our results indicate that although Wi-Fi
performance can not be guaranteed in all
circumstances, it is generally possible to
stream multiple HD videos if certain
conditions, including conditions on radio
configuration, interference, and signal
attenuation are met. We present our test
observations for 802.11n and 802.11ac Wi-Fi
radios with different configurations and
provide recommendations for video streaming
over operator-managed Wi-Fi networks.
