U.K. service provider EE has extended its Wi-Fi Enhancer service with Stream Mode, which is designed to prioritize subscribers’ favored apps to ensure they operate smoothly and efficiently without impacting those using the platform for other purposes in the household. Stream Mode is a switchable setting within the EE app.
“Whether its binge-watching boxsets or watching live sport, Stream Mode puts streaming apps in the fast lane, so customers can enjoy uninterrupted entertainment, even when the whole household is online,” EE Director of Product, Home & TV Luciano Oliveira said in a press release.
The new EE Stream Mode includes Game Mode and Work Mode settings. Game Mode prioritizes consoles and gaming apps. Work Mode prioritizes video calls and collaborative tools for those who work at home.
EE is part of BT Group’s Consumer business unit.
Wi-Fi is an increasingly important technology as people increasingly rely on it for entertainment, education, and work. This is driving sophistication on many levels.
For instance, GFiber and Nokia recently conducted a demonstration at of network slicing, which is the ability to segment bandwidth and provide a portion of it — a slice — with customized attributes. The demo featured two PS5 gaming consoles that were initially made inoperable by a traffic generator. Use of a network slice enabled them to perform normally.
A related but separate area is self-installation. Early last month, Telecompetitor spoke with RouteThis CEO Jason Moore, whose company is offering an artificial intelligence-driven product called RouteThis Self-Install. Moore told Telecompetitor that the biggest barrier to ubiquitous coverage in the home is consumer education.
Beyond tools like the EE Stream Mode, the next broad transition may be wider deployment of Wi-Fi 7. Ookla reported that these platforms have been available in the United States for more than a year, but the adoption rate is less than 2%. Wider deployment of the technology will make some add-ons unnecessary.
