Russian scientists have found a way to "speed up" public Wi-Fi: a new algorithm can increase the stability and speed of the signal by up to four times — especially in places where the Internet usually "barely breathes".
The development was presented by specialists from MIPT and IITP RAS. They solved one of the main problems of overloaded networks: when dozens of devices are connected to one router, the flow of service data begins to clog the channel more than the traffic itself.
The new approach makes this information more compact and accurate. Devices transmit less unnecessary information, and the router better understands how the signal passes and adapts to the conditions faster. As a result, the connection becomes more stable, and the speed increases without increasing the load.
The most noticeable effect is on the "outskirts" of the network. Where pages used to load for an eternity, the speed can increase by 2–4 times. Near the router, the increase is not so strong, but the connection becomes much more stable and almost never breaks.
This technology is especially important for cafes, shopping centers and train stations — places where Wi-Fi is usually overloaded. In the context of mobile Internet restrictions, this could be a real boost for users.
Wi-Fi still won't be able to completely replace mobile communications, but it can become a normal alternative in static scenarios. If the development is implemented in devices, the quality of public Internet can increase significantly.
