BLE Beacon Power Efficiency: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons are designed for low power consumption. Their primary function is to periodically broadcast short data packets (advertising their presence).
Other Technologies:
Cellular: More power-hungry due to long-range communication and complex protocols.
GPS: Power intensive, especially when actively tracking location.
Wi-Fi:

Legacy Support: The primary reason to continue using older wireless technologies is the need to connect with devices that don't support newer standards (e.g., old sensors or equipment).
Other Reasons (Not as Strong):
Cost: Replacing legacy devices can be expensive.
Reliability: Some legacy technologies might be well-proven in specific settings.

Attenuation: Describes the progressive loss of signal strength as it travels through a medium (like air, cables, walls). It's caused by factors like absorption, distance, and obstacles.
Other Phenomena:
Diffraction: Bending of waves around obstacles.
Reflection: Waves bouncing off surfaces.
**Scattering: ** Waves dispersing in multiple directions.
References
Attenuation: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attenuation

Cloud-based applications drive bandwidth usage: Applications like Google Suite, Microsoft 365, and video conferencing (Zoom, Teams) are commonly used in educational settings. These rely on cloud servers, requiring significant downloads and uploads.
Shift towards online learning: More schools are utilizing online learning platforms and resources, further increasing their dependence on cloud-based solutions.
Streaming, torrents, wearables less impactful: Streaming music and torrent sites can contribute, but their impact is generally less significant. Wearables in education are still niche despite their potential.
References
Trends in education technology: Reports on the rise of cloud-based learning platforms in schools.
[Example: Project Tomorrow Speak Up Research Project on Digital Learning] (https://tomorrow.org/speakup/) Network usage studies in schools: Research on bandwidth usage patterns can confirm the primary drivers of traffic in educational settings.

Wi-Fi and Zigbee Interference: Both can operate in the 2.4 GHz band, leading to potential interference that degrades performance for both networks.
5 GHz Advantages:
Less crowded: Fewer devices operate in the 5 GHz band, reducing interference potential.
Wider Channels: 5 GHz supports wider channels, enabling higher data throughput for Wi-Fi.