"Content providers will feel more secure that the stuff they're sending can't be hijacked," Solis said. "If you're streaming a pay-per-view movie, it (802.11i) means your neighbor can't get it."
One area in which change will be slower will be Wi-Fi access by remote users at public hotspots. Solis said he expected most enterprises will continue to require using virtual private networks (VPNs) to access enterprise data when logged on from hotspots.
However, a number of hotspot vendors and aggregators have said they'll eventually deploy stronger security such as 802.11i at their hotspots.
Confidence in wireless security was lost when the initial protection scheme for 802.11 networks, Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP), proved relatively easy for hackers to break. A subsequent method, Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) proved more secure but still wasn't seen as being thorough enough.
By contrast, WPA2's protection utilizes the more highly-regarded Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and other technologies for ensuring that wireless access is bullet-proof. The Wi-Fi Alliance is expected to begin official certification of 802.11i-compliante equipment in late summer or early fall.
Subsea cable alternatives can provide a level of comfort for those concerned about disruptions. Realistically, they will continue to play a small, but critical role in the short term.
Maintaining existing network infrastructures often incurs huge technical debt before newer technologies are adopted over time.
Amid ongoing regional uncertainties, telecom infrastructure in the Middle East has expand to include terrestrial low-latency network infrastructure, which offers resilience and agility in navigating political complexities without relying solely on undersea networks.
