It appears that the “battle” between UTP cabled and Wi-Fi IP connectivity options has been won by wireless. Wi-Fi is now built-in to smart devices, laptops, IP cameras and other technologies used by our industry. End users have reduced the amount of cabling installed in their buildings, opting for the spreading of Wi-Fi connectivity via access points using the latest 802.11ac standard for communications.
There are obvious advantages to Wi-Fi. Portability of devices, ease of connectivity, and less network management required all add up to easier and “faster” connectivity. With the growth of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), wireless IP is the preferred method of connection and in some cases (such as smart phones) is the only way to go. Fewer devices need to be wired, as a single access point can provide connectivity for dozens of individual devices.