Work

Wi-Fi Deployment Status: Highlights of the Barcelona 2026 Survey

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This presentation summarizes the main findings of the Barcelona 2026 Wi-Fi deployment survey, an empirical measurement campaign aimed at characterizing the current state of Wi-Fi infrastructure across Barcelona and its metropolitan area. The study examines deployment density, IEEE 802.11 generations, operating-band utilization, channel widths, channel selection, active client stations, and expected PHY-layer performance. Measurements were collected over a four-month field campaign covering different indoor, outdoor, dense, and sparse urban environments. The methodology combines Android-based Wi-Fi and GPS measurements using the SigCap application, passive monitoring using Kismet, and RF calibration measurements. The resulting datasets are used both to characterize unique Wi-Fi deployments and to estimate the best achievable PHY rate along the measurement routes, assuming continuous association with the best available access point.

Source: Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.22140983

Authors: Doria, Pol, Sanchez Vital, Roger, Lopez-Aguilera, Elena, Garcia-Villegas, Eduard

Institutions: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, University of Antwerp, IMEC

Language: English

Topic: Wireless Networks and Protocols

Subfield: Computer Networks and Communications

Field: Computer Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Silicon Valley Community Foundation, Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, European Commission

Awards: G2228850348, G2254251601, G8546569319