Comparative Performance and Techno-Economic Analysis of Wi-Fi 6 and Private 5G Networks in Industrial and Enterprise Environments
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63282/3050-9262.IJAIDSML-V7I2P102Keywords:
Wi-Fi 6, IEEE 802.11ax, Private 5G, 3GPP Release 16, Industrial IoT (IIoT), Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), URLLC, Target Wake Time (TWT), C-DRXAbstract
The rise of Industry 4.0 has prompted a critical review of wireless connectivity standards, requiring a shift from "best-effort" networking to deterministic, ultra-reliable communication systems. Between 2020 and 2024, two main technologies emerged as contenders for the wireless edge: IEEE 802.11ax, marketed as Wi-Fi 6, and 3GPP Releases 16 and 17, known as Private 5G (P5G) networks. This research paper provides a comprehensive, empirical comparison of these technologies by combining data from academic studies, industry benchmarks, and techno-economic models. The analysis reveals a clear distinction in performance features. While Wi-Fi 6 offers cost-effective solutions for high-density IT environments, measurements show it has unbounded tail latencies reaching up to 264 ms during mobility and packet loss during client roaming. In contrast, Private 5G networks employing scheduled access maintain bounded latencies (typically under 45 ms at the 99.99th percentile) and experience negligible packet loss during handoffs. Moreover, techno-economic models challenge the assumption that Wi-Fi is always cheaper; in large industrial areas (>100,000 sq. ft.), Private 5G can reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) by as much as 53% by lowering infrastructure costs and preventing operational downtime.
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