As one of the leaders in wireless connectivity, D-Link is leading the charge in the adoption of Wireless AC, the fifth generation of Wi-Fi.

Alternatively known as 802.11ac, Gigabit and even 5G Wi-Fi, Wireless AC brings a host of new features, taking over from the previous Wireless N standard, which is rapidly running out of steam. In fact, according to research by Strategy Analytics, there are four billion Wi-Fi enabled consumer electronics devices in use across the world resulting in an average of seven wireless devices for every household. By 2017 over seven billion devices will be in use globally.

"For most of us Wi-Fi is an integral part of our everyday lives. Most homes, offices, hotels and even train stations, coffee shops and stores now have wireless Internet connectivity. But like many of our roads during rush hour, the capacity of most current wireless networks is not only limited, but increasingly crowded. This is due to the number of devices we now connect to our Wi-Fi as well as competition with everything from microwaves to doorbells and wireless burglar alarms," said Kevin Wen, President of D-Link Europe Ltd.

Wireless AC brings an end to these frustrations.

For those who may be unsure of why to switch to Wireless AC, or see it as an unnecessary hassle or expense, there are five very good reasons to switch sooner rather than later:

1. Up to four times faster - Wireless AC initially delivers up to four times the bandwidth of current Wireless N products. This means that web pages load faster, downloads are quicker, video streams have much less buffering and gamers cut their lag. Plus, by delivering more data in less time, Wireless AC will help extend battery life on mobile devices, enabling more to be done between charges.
2. More devices connected at the same time – Because Wireless AC uses a higher and wider radio frequency band, it becomes possible to have more devices connected at the same time without losing performance. For families with laptops, tablets, smartphones and other connected appliances, this is increasingly needed.
3. Better streaming – Thanks to its faster speeds and wider frequency bands, combined with other technical features, Wireless AC is specifically designed for our 'on-demand' generation who want flawless wireless streaming, video chat and online gaming.
4. No more dead-spots – A technology called 'Beamforming' is now standard as part of Wireless AC and helps improve range and reliability by focusing the signal more accurately at devices connected to the network. So no more dropped connections, even upstairs.
5. Peace-of-mind – Although Wireless AC works at a different frequency to Wireless N, all D-Link devices work as 'Dual-Band'. This means that Wireless AC is backwards compatible with all older generation wireless devices which will connect just as before (although won't get the full benefits described above). Wireless AC also uses the same encryption technologies further guaranteeing compatibility and making the new technology equally as secure as earlier implementations.

More and more Wireless AC enabled devices are being released every month. D-Link was the first to market with Wireless AC products and already has an extensive portfolio of routers and adapters available. With a model to suit every situation and wallet, customers can rest assured that they can connect to their existing Wi-Fi devices while future-proofing their networks and reaping the full benefits of Wireless AC straight away.