It has been quite the month: my partner moved in, my roof needed to be replaced and my sewer pipe collapsed in the past 4 weeks. While I did not have time to blog, I did have time to complete the Certified 5G LAN Specialist (C5S) course offered by CWNP with partnership from Celona.(1) Oh man, was I not prepared for the amount of content in this free class, but I am glad I made time for it.
At first, you may think "I work in WiFi, why would I want to spend time on cellular". However, I have a few reasons why you should consider spending time learning the fundamentals if you work with WiFi products.
1. Learning 5G use cases will help you understand where WiFi is most appropriate
Companies most often use 5G for vast-coverage areas where reliability is key. This usually means outdoors, or in IoT indoor applications. If you have to evaluate all the potential technology solutions for your enterprise's or a customer's use case, it's worth knowing where WiFi is most appropriately used.
Another consideration to factor in is the environment's existing devices: do they have SIM cards, 802.11 cards, or both? What about the cost of putting in the 5G nodes/infrastructure vs APs and a controller? The course will help you answer these questions by addressing the most common reasons for private 5G deployments.
2. A lot of WiFi theory overlaps with 5G
If you have a grasp on antenna theory, the OSI model, and regulatory considerations for WiFi, then learning 5G's specific quirks becomes much easier. By comparison, 5G is shared spectrum as opposed to licensed or unlicensed. There are different priority levels based on if the network is granted GAA, PAL, or Incumbent connectivity. GAA is the closest to what one would think of in unlicensed 802.11, but not entirely the same.
At the end of the day, once the architecture integrates with the rest of the LAN, layer 1/2 have the most dramatic differences.
3. Cellular will always exist in tandem with WiFi
Whether 5G will see surging popularity as an indoors alternative to WiFi, I am unsure. The fact that each device needs a SIM is barrier for device manufacturers. Regardless, I still see a world where extremely mobile devices retain the traditional mobile operator model for public, licensed use.
If you support multiple technologies for your enterprise or are looking to stay in the wireless space, but branch out, having basic 5G knowledge enables you to pivot in expertise as needed. Someday we will see 6G networks and still have to explain to people why 6G has nothing to do with 6 GHz WiFi the same way we did for 5G vs 5 GHz WiFi.
4. While the course has substantial content, it is easier to complete little by little than most certifications
Compared to pursuing other CWNP tests, you will not be reading an exam booklet and then waiting to sit a proctored exam. The course has recorded lectures and transcripts that allow you do complete chapter at your own pace.
Personally, I failed the first time around because I rushed through the last two chapters and a lot of the course material "clicked" for me when I reviewed and recognized what questions I for sure got wrong before. That said, the overall time investment is about half of other exams I have taken like CWAP/CWSP.
5. It's 100% Free
This is the most obvious reason as in the IT world, we usually have to pay for comprehensive course content and meaningful certifications. C5G offers both those things for free. The course is still available, but I am unsure what it will look like long-term. I have been informed that Google offers a certified CBRS installer course on Coursera for continued learning. Otherwise, I had a hard time finding a comprehensive source on all things 5G like this course.
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