Modern networks provide impressive speeds – often reach Gigabits per second – however they still have unexpected delays that can disrupt interactive applications. Whether it is video conferences, cloud games or remote cooperation, these contradictions can lead to frustrating user experiences. While network operators seek to enhance reliability and response, a more effective solution is needed.
To address this need, the ITF (IETF) work group has identified an institution responsible for developing open internet standards – low productivity structure, low loss, and developable production engineering (L4S). L4s enables applications to implement a new mechanism to ensure that its data is sent as soon as the network can support, but not faster. The result is the use of the effective capacity with the minimum delay of the waiting list and the loss of low beams.
This shift to the most comprehensive service quality model (QOS) is necessary to provide smooth and uninterrupted performance through a wide range of services, from games and video to cloud computing and augmented reality.
What is L4s?
The L4S power stems from new congestion algorithms that adapt to new grains from crowding in the IP layer through different network elements along a comprehensive path (E2E). Although L4s can be published on each of the network elements, its most important effect is at congestion points, which are also referred to as network bottlenecks – where the rate of packets can exceed the rate of departure.
The cable industry has already adopted support for L4s, as part of the Docsis® 3.1 Low Contping specifications (it is also carried in Docsis 4.0 equipment as well). The operators began to enable this job in their networks, and it is expected to do more in the coming months. However, the BroadBand Access Sector is only a potential bottle neck. There are others on the E2E path.
The need for L4s in Wi-Fi networks
Wi-Fi networks, in particular, require L4S support because they are often congestion in E2E networks. In fact, although Wi-Fi networks often announce the maximum capacity of communications that exceed the wide range of bold, the actual performance is greatly affected by factors such as the distance between customers and access point (AP), as well as the number of APS and customers working on the same channel. This need to support L4S is more important given that a large part of the Internet traffic is transmitted via Wi-Fi.
WBA L4S implementation and NS3 simulation instructions
Wi-Fi offers unique challenges to implement L4S compared to wire technologies such as Docsis® networks. While wired networks see in the first place the delay of temporary storage only, the Wi-Fi network also provides delays to media access, which can be important in crowded environments. To deal with these challenges, Cablebs has worked within the comprehensive service quality working group in the wireless broadcast alliance (WBA) to produce a set of guidelines to implement L4s in current Wi-Fi products.
Covering guidelines:
L4S technology overview, explaining mechanics and its benefits. The importance of L4S support in Wi-Fi equipment to improve the performance of the E2E app. Implementation strategies for Wi-Fi equipment suppliers to enable L4S functions in their products. Simulation and test results that show L4s’s advantages in real world scenarios
Simulation results are based on the Wi-Fi NS3 model developed by Cablelabs, designed to evaluate L4S performance in Wi-Fi networks. The model is open source and is available for players in industry and research to support the deployment of L4s and evaluate its impact on various cases of use. In addition, Cablebs provided field test data conducted with Nokia AP.
L4S future in Wi-Fi
Today’s Wi-Fi equipment suppliers can take advantage of L4S implementation instructions to develop support on their current platforms (such as Wi-Fi 7). Several proposals submitted by industry leaders, including Cablelabs, aim to integrate L4S support into the Wi-Fi 802.11 standard, ensuring the original L4S support across the future generations of Wi-Fi.
In addition, with the maturity of the ecosystem, Cablebs will continue to improve the NS3 model to expand its application to apply on more scenarios and use of use. This continuous effort is developed in cooperation with the WBA E2E QOS working group.
L4S is a very important step in the development of the Internet that solves many problems that cause frustration today, as it seems that the frequency range alone has not fully enabled reliable and rapid interactive applications experiences.
To take this step completely, the network slices that are potential bottlenecks in residential publishing operations-the arrival network and the Wi-Fi–you need a compact support for L4s.
