How To Optimize Wi-Fi Network Design To Ensure the Ultimate Subscriber Experience

An abstract Wi-Fi symbol on the side of an apartment building structure

Your network is only as good as the experience your subscribers have while on that network. That’s why your broadband assurance strategy must extend all the way into the subscriber’s premises. Is the subscriber receiving the quality of service they expect? Can you accurately validate the service experience?

If your subscribers believe their service is underperforming, they may conduct a speed test directly from their device. However, the device location, Wi-Fi interference, and other issues can create misleading results that cause confusion and frustration for subscribers. This may also drive the perception that your service is subpar when the issue lies elsewhere.

Validate Speeds With Testing From the Cloud

That’s why it’s important to use the most advanced tools to validate broadband speeds accurately. This ensures subscribers and operations teams get a true representation of network performance. New capabilities on the Calix Broadband Platform allow broadband service providers (BSPs) to perform accurate testing directly from the cloud.

Speed testing up to 10 Gbps. This includes Calix’s current Wi-Fi systems, integrated Wi-Fi systems, and optical network terminals (ONTs)—and paves the way for upcoming next-generation Wi-Fi 7 systems.
Test origination flexibility when deploying multiple servers to originate location-specific speed testing. This allows BSPs to expand their testing capabilities within diverse markets.
On-demand ONT-based multi-gig speed and latency testing. This breakthrough industry-first capability allows BSPs to test directly from the ONT without access to premises equipment. This simplifies broadband speed testing for network operators that don’t have access to Calix Wi-Fi systems.

How To Achieve Effective Wi-Fi Design

These testing capabilities form the basis of effective Wi-Fi design. Armed with accurate information on network performance, speed, and latency, BSPs can optimize the Wi-Fi experience to meet their subscribers’ expectations.

The Calix Professional Services team also works with BSPs to design Wi-Fi architectures tailored to various environments, from regular households to outdoor spaces to multi-dwelling units (MDUs) and more. In all cases, we use advanced tools—such as heat maps—to visualize, analyze, and troubleshoot the environment and identify where interference and “not spots” may occur. We can then help architect and implement an optimized design that supports every subscriber’s unique needs.

Figure: Using a Heat Map for Effective Wi-Fi Design

Service providers can fully leverage their investment in the Calix Broadband Platform by utilizing these advanced testing tools to deliver second-to-none Wi-Fi experiences. The Calix Professional Services and Global Architecture Practice teams are also here to help you maximize your opportunity.

Get started today with our Professional Services team to achieve effective Wi-Fi design.

By Kevin Kuo

Director, Product Marketing, Unlimited Subscriber, Calix

Kevin Kuo is the director, product marketing, Unlimited Subscriber at Calix. Kevin has over 25 years of experience in the telecommunications, manufacturing, broadband, and wireless industries, working for AT&T, AT&T Mobility, Motorola, and Nokia.