Top 5 Internet Trends for 2020

Top networking trends for the coming year include SD-WAN, Wi-Fi 6, multi-domain control, virtual networks, and the changing role of network engineers.

In the blog outlining the key trends for 2020, trend predictions in these five areas are elaborated in detail.

[[286294]]

1. Wi-Fi 6 and 5G

First, wireless technologies, particularly Wi-Fi 6, will enter the enterprise through employee use and refresh through enterprise access points.

The latest smartphones from Apple, Samsung, and other manufacturers support Wi-Fi 6, and Wi-Fi 6 access points are currently shipping to businesses and consumers.

5G phones aren't in widespread circulation yet, and while that will start to change in 2020, mostly for consumers and by the end of the year, Oswal wrote that the number of people using Wi-Fi 6 is expected to exceed 5G by 2020.

2020 will also see the introduction of new frequency bands, including the start of the rollout of “millimeter wave” (24Ghz to 100Ghz) spectrum for super-fast, but short-range 5G, and Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) at around 3.5Ghz.

This could lead to new private networks using LTE and 5G technologies, particularly for IoT applications.

In the long term, Oswal wrote, "combined with improvements in Wi-Fi 6 and (eventually) 5G performance, we are in for a long period of innovation in access networks."

2. It’s an SD-WAN world

"We're seeing a lot of momentum in the SD-WAN space because of the large number of companies that need secure access to cloud applications," Oswal said. The fragmentation of connectivity -- the growth of multi-cloud networks -- will force many enterprises to realign their networks to support SD-WAN technology, he said.

"Meanwhile, large cloud service providers like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are connecting with networking companies like Cisco to build deep partnerships across networking stacks and services," Oswal wrote.

Oswal said he expects the partnership to only deepen next year, which is consistent with recent analysis by Gartner. “SD-WAN is replacing routing and adding application-aware path selection between multiple links, centralized orchestration, native security, and other capabilities.

As such, it includes features from incumbent and emerging vendors in multiple markets (i.e., routing, security, WAN optimization, and SD-WAN), each with its own characteristics and limitations,” Gartner wrote in a recent report.

Additionally, Oswal said, SD-WAN technology will lead to growth in the managed service provider (MSP) business, with more MSPs starting to offer SD-WAN services.

“We expect mobile operators to grow about twice as fast as the SD-WAN market itself and expect mobile operators to begin to become highly specialized in terms of sectors and network size,” Oswal wrote.

3. Extensive multi-domain network

"For better management, agility, and especially security, these multiple domains need to work together," Oswal wrote. "Controllers for each domain need to work in a coordinated fashion to support automation, analytics, and security across the various domains."

Oswal wrote that the next-generation network fabric's "controller-first" architecture allows for unified management of loosely coupled systems using APIs and defines data structures for inter-device and inter-domain communications.

“The intent-based networking model that enterprises began to adopt in 2019 makes network management simpler and more straightforward by absorbing the complexity of the network,” he wrote.

4. The network as a sensor

The concept of the network being used for something more important than speed and feeds has been discussed for a while, but the idea may return next year. The ultimate goal is to be able to profile and categorize devices, end points, and applications

Even if they are sending fully encrypted data the network is able to automatically connect devices to virtual networks, enable the correct rule sets to protect those devices, and ultimately identify security issues extremely quickly," Oswal wrote.

Eventually, systems will be able to correct problems on their own, or at least file their own help desk tickets. This becomes increasingly important as networks become more complex.”

Oswal said this kind of intelligence might prove useful in wireless networks where the network can collect data about how people and things move around and use physical spaces, such as Internet of Things devices in an enterprise or medical equipment in a hospital.

“This data can directly help facility owners optimize their physical space, improve productivity, facilitate navigation, and even increase retail sales,” Oswal wrote.

5. Network engineer changes career

The increasingly software-based network environment is changing the resume requirements for network professionals. "The standard way network operators work - using command-line interfaces (such as CLIs) to provision network equipment - is reaching its limits," Oswal wrote.

“New networks run by APIs require programming skills to manage,” Oswal wrote. “Code is the resource behind the creation of new business solutions. It remains critical for individuals to validate their abilities with new infrastructure and network engineering concepts.”

Oswal noted that it will not be an easy change, as retraining individuals or entire teams can be expensive, and not everyone will adapt to the new order.

“For those who do, the benefits are huge,” Oswal said. “Network operators will be closer to the businesses they work for and better able to help businesses with their digital transformation.

The speed and agility they gain because they have a programmable network, coupled with telemetry and analytics, opens up tremendous new opportunities for them.”

Perhaps one of the biggest additions is a new set of professional certifications for developers, who can tap into Cisco's growing DevNet developer community.