Analyzing the suitability of IEEE 802.11ah for next generation Internet of Things: A comparative study

Hyperconnectivity, real-time processing, and interoperable communication facilities are key to the Next Generation (NG) Internet of Things (IoT). However, existing IoT architectures employ a diverse range of communication technologies to support desired data rates and coverage range, making them more complex to manage. The emerging IEEE 802.11ah standard, marketed as WiFi HaLow™, enables seamless communication among large-scale and energy-efficient sensor/actuator nodes to the Internet. IEEE 802.11ah introduces key features like Restricted Access Window (RAW) for reducing contention, Hierarchical Traffic Indication Map (TIM) and Association Identifier (AID) for efficient scheduling and device identification, and multiple Modulation and Coding Schemes (MCSs) for adaptive data transmission, enhancing IoT connectivity in Next-Generation IoT (NGI) communication. In this paper, we discuss IEEE 802.11ah for NGI concerning different requirements in terms of communication and computation. We survey the suitability of 802.11ah for NGI as compared to the existing state-of-the-art connectivity solutions. Thereafter, an IEEE 802.11ah-based NGI architecture and protocol stack are proposed and discussed, according to the different distinct features of this novel technology. Finally, we conclude by enumerating research and future directions for the proposed network architecture. •Proposed a Next-Generation Internet of Things (NGI) Architecture using IEEE 802.11ah.•The proposed NGI is for diverse communication and computation needs.•Exploration of communication technologies, standards, and NGI architecture prerequisites.•Suitability analysis of 802.11ah for NGI against current connectivity solutions.•Comparative assessment with related architectures, emphasizing programmability and intelligence.•Comparative study of existing communication standards in the context of NGI.•Presentation of IEEE 802.11ah-based NGI architecture and protocol stack with unique features.•Conclusion includes insights on research directions for the proposed NGI architecture.