In recent years, Wi-Fi positioning systems (WPS) have found increasing more and more applications in many spheres. They are used not only outside but also inside buildings where GPS navigation can’t work properly because of signal blocking, the multiplicity of paths, and other reasons. Wi-Fi provides the exact location of objects and persons, which helps to optimize business processes and increase the company’s profit.
Statistically speaking, the total global Wi-Fi market in 2024 was $22.6 billion. According to expert forecasts, these numbers will only continue to grow in the future. In the coming years, the average annual growth rate will be 22.2%, and by 2029 the market volume will be estimated at $45.12 billion.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Wi-Fi Positioning System (WPS) leverages zonal accuracy to precisely locate objects and people indoors.
- WPS uses Wi-Fi access points to determine the location in a room using RSSI and MAC address, providing accurate location information.
- Wi-Fi location accuracy depends on the number of access points, the building topology, and the type of smartphone: modern Android devices provide accuracy within 8-10 meters.
- The advantage of Wi-Fi-based indoor navigation is that it can be scaled using existing Wi-Fi access points without the need for additional equipment or infrastructure maintenance.
- Wi-Fi indoor positioning is used in various industries such as transportation, logistics, industry, offices, exhibitions, and museums.
HOW WI-FI-BASED INDOOR POSITIONING WORKS: TECHNICAL METHODS EXPLAINED
The wireless indoor positioning system works by defining coordinates using Wi-Fi access points that transmit specific data. Using the RSSI (received signal strength indicator) and MAC-address, the system can define the current location of the user’s device using the multilateration approach.
The accuracy of indoor positioning systems using Wi-Fi depends on the number of access points, the building's topology, and the smartphone type. Modern Android-based smartphones could provide indoor positioning as precise as 2 - 3 m in optimal topological conditions.
The Wi-Fi location system uses the entire Wi-Fi infrastructure, which includes not only Wi-Fi routers, but also phones, and tablets. By employing Wi-Fi access points, the system can easily define any Wi-Fi-powered devices' location and monitor their movement inside the building.
Wi-Fi-based indoor positioning systems (IPS) use several signal processing techniques to locate devices in indoor environments and the most prominent ones are:
- Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI): This method calculates distances between the device and access points according to received signal strength. An economical option with wide support, it suffers in accuracy due to interference and environmental factors.
- Fingerprinting: The most accurate among the Wi-Fi positioning methods. Fingerprinting collects data about the signal's characteristics (RSSI values from multiple access points) at known reference points during a calibration phase. These measurements populate the database for future matching of real-time signal data for positioning.
- Time of Flight (ToF) and Round Trip Time (RTT): More advanced systems measure the time it takes for Wi-Fi signals to travel from the device to the access point and back. Wi-Fi RTT (as part of the IEEE 802.11mc protocol) allows for highly accurate distance measurements—often within 1–2 meters—without relying on signal strength, making it ideal for applications that demand precision.
More so, by intertwining these methods with others such as Bluetooth or UWB, the system's accuracy and resilience can be improved.
Navigine Indoor Navigation Kit
Try all the possibilities of indoor navigation with the Navigine Demo Kit!
BENEFITS OF Wi-Fi POSITIONING AND NAVIGATION SYSTEMS
The exact location detection using Wi-Fi is becoming increasingly important for enterprises, warehouses, and other businesses, as there is a growing need to monitor the position and movement of valuable assets by using special indoor positioning platforms, such as various tracking systems and indoor navigation mobile applications. Wi-Fi positioning technology can provide numerous benefits for enterprises due to its following advantages:
- already installed Wi-Fi infrastructure can be used for indoor positioning;
- there is no necessity for additional equipment and infrastructure maintenance;
- the system can use a wide range of different types of existing Wi-Fi access points;
- there is a possibility to scale the system without manual intervention;
- the system can have a long signal range – up to 150 m;
- the system works fine with other positioning technologies for improving accuracy and a more flexible deployment.
But how does Wi-Fi compare to other positioning technologies like Bluetooth, UWB, AoA, and even GPS? The table below offers a quick visual guide to their key differences, including accuracy, range, battery consumption, and more.
POSSIBLE DISADVANTAGES OF AN INDOOR WI-FI POSITIONING SYSTEM
The indoor positioning system using Wi-Fi has not only pros but also some cons. These can include:
- Suboptimal accuracy. Wi-Fi localization accuracy can reach up to 15 m, which is not always suitable for determining the location of valuable assets. In comparison, Bluetooth® Low Energy provides an accuracy of 2-4 m. To solve the problem, it’s recommended to supplement Wi-Fi with other technology types.
- Security threat. Wi-Fi is one of the most common wireless protocols and is highly prone to cyber attacks. Poor security will usually be one of the issues of this network, but at the same time, there will always be companies working to protect Wi-Fi networks from hacking.
LIMITATIONS OF Wi-Fi POSITIONING
Wi-Fi RSSI-based positioning works well for Android devices. However, some changes in the latest Android version (see table below) limit Wi-Fi scanning capabilities.
Unfortunately, it is impossible now (2025) to use Wi-Fi for indoor positioning on iPhones/iPads as Apple prevents applications from getting Wi-Fi environment data due to privacy concerns.
| OS version | Wi-Fi Scanning Frequency | Wi-Fi Throttling | Pure Wi-Fi Positioning Accuracy | Indoor positioning accuracy (Wi-Fi + inertial sensors) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any iOS device | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Android 8 and earlier | 1 sec | - | 3-5 m | 2-3m |
| Android 9 | 4 times / 2 min | + | 10-30 m | 8-15 m |
| Android 10 | 4 times / 2 min | +/- | 10-30 m | 8-15 m |
| Android 11 | 4 times / 2 min | +/- | 10-30 m | 8-15 m |
Table 1. Wi-Fi positioning accuracy and scanning limitations.
More information about Wi-Fi throttling can be found in this article How to Avoid WiFi Throttling on Android Devices.
USE CASES FOR WI-FI BASED INDOOR POSITIONING AND NAVIGATION SYSTEM
Indoor location-based Wi-Fi is used in many spheres – from transport and logistics to industry, offices, exhibitions, and museums.
Transport
The technology helps to optimize transport processes and lets passengers quickly find the route to the necessary place inside airports and railway stations. Nearly 56% of airports worldwide implemented IPS technology in 2023 to improve passenger navigation and overall experience. Using this system, it becomes possible to make interactive maps with points of interest, track people’s flows, and ensure staff navigation in traffic centers. Constant monitoring of passenger transportation enables it to quickly react to changing conditions and improve the quality of passenger services.
Logistics and warehouses
The companies, which specialize in logistics and warehousing, can use Wi-Fi for positioning order pickers, vehicles, and cargo. The system provides detailed information on asset location and helps to automate many warehousing operations. Thanks to the constant navigation of the warehouse staff, it is possible to adjust daily tasks in real-time, increase efficiency, and timely react to emergencies.
Industry
The Wi-Fi indoor navigation system is an optimal means of positioning moving objects in industrial enterprises. Its implementation allows for solving many important tasks:
- increase staff safety;
- reduce costs on vehicle downtime;
- decrease the number of emergencies;
- adjust the routes of special vehicles in real-time;
- perform analytics for making effective management decisions.
Offices
Wi-Fi can be successfully implemented in indoor positioning at large administrative buildings. The Wi-Fi indoor localization system can build step-by-step routes to the required office, send notifications and tips that depend on the person’s location. Thanks to the continuous gathering of information on movements in an office, it’s possible to perform exact analytics and optimize the work of office systems.
Museums and exhibitions
Using Wi-Fi, you can create guides and mobile applications that will improve the performance of exhibitions and museums. The indoor wireless positioning system helps to build interactive maps of halls, and develop the easiest and best routes to the required exhibit. The exhibition organizers can collect geodata on visitors and carefully study their behavior to plan expositions rationally.
Wi-Fi-based location solutions remain a popular choice for RTLS and indoor navigation, offering reliable and scalable tracking across diverse environments. Navigine provides customized Wi-Fi solutions tailored to various industrial scenarios, from indoor navigation in museums and campuses to Wi-Fi RTLS for manufacturing environments, ensuring precise and efficient operations across different industries.
Nick Rozaev
Solution Delivery Manager
NAVIGINE'S OPEN SOURCE INITIATIVE
Navigine also supports the Open Source concept and makes various navigation algorithms developed by the company publicly available. Our algorithms allow developers to easily modify and enhance the source code for their use. We believe that our code can bring significant benefits to third-party software developers and regularly test new R&D activities to create extremely precise navigation systems. Navigine's algorithms can be used for applications for various industries, including retail, manufacturing, warehousing, automotive, healthcare, transportation, and more.
LATEST ADVANCES IN WI-FI INDOOR POSITIONING
In the last few years, the field of indoor positioning has made substantial strides. The most significant advancement is enabling the capability of Wi-Fi RTT (Round Trip Time) via support in Android 9 and higher devices and selecting modern access points. Where RSSI merely reports signal strength, RTT reports the actual time a signal takes to make the trip, offering better accuracy and much less environmental interference. More information about using this approach for indoor positioning can be found in our article on how Wi-Fi RTT takes Indoor Positioning to the next level.
On the other hand, machine learning algorithms are increasingly being applied to fingerprinting techniques in order to improve inference on location accuracy further as well as to adjust without needing a full re-calibration to environmental changes in the indoor space.
Modern Wi-Fi technologies such as Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 7 are advantageous for signal stabilization, throughput, and better devices connected to it. Thus, they can be used in more complex indoor environments that accommodate higher numbers of users.
If you're looking to utilize Wi-Fi indoor positioning capabilities for your business or project, we're here to help. Contact us today to discuss your specific needs and learn how our solutions can help you navigate the future with confidence.
