Enhancing Scalability in Wi-Fi IoT Networks with Logical Data Plane Segregation Using SDN Principles

Gabriel Vieira, Ana Rita Ortigoso, Daniel Fuentes, Luis Frazão, Nuno Costa, António Pereira

2025

Abstract

The increasing demand for wireless connectivity, with IoT devices projected to exceed 20 billion by 2025, reinforces Wi-Fi as the dominant technology. However, the standard star topology limits coverage for widely dispersed IoT devices. While mesh networking extends coverage, most IoT endpoints lack native mesh support, posing scalability and security challenges. This study proposes an IoT architecture leveraging a dual-stack and dual logical data plane approach based on SDN principles. It separates control and data traffic into three planes: IoT data, Wi-Fi extension, and control. The control plane employs ESP-NOW for mesh optimisation, while Wi-Fi ensures compatibility and expanded functionality. A prototype using ESP32-C6 DevKitC-1 modules demonstrates cost-efficiency, supporting stable connectivity with performance degradation beyond 50 metres. Experimental results confirm the architecture’s ability to establish a self-organising, resilient mesh network with dynamic reconfiguration, offering a scalable and flexible solution for IoT mesh networks.

Paper Citation

in Harvard Style

Vieira G., Ortigoso A., Fuentes D., Frazão L., Costa N. and Pereira A. (2025). Enhancing Scalability in Wi-Fi IoT Networks with Logical Data Plane Segregation Using SDN Principles. In Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Internet of Things, Big Data and Security - Volume 1: IoTBDS; ISBN 978-989-758-750-4, SciTePress, pages 378-385. DOI: 10.5220/0013428800003944

in Bibtex Style

@conference{iotbds25,
author={Gabriel Vieira and Ana Ortigoso and Daniel Fuentes and Luis Frazão and Nuno Costa and António Pereira},
title={Enhancing Scalability in Wi-Fi IoT Networks with Logical Data Plane Segregation Using SDN Principles},
booktitle={Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Internet of Things, Big Data and Security - Volume 1: IoTBDS},
year={2025},
pages={378-385},
publisher={SciTePress},
organization={INSTICC},
doi={10.5220/0013428800003944},
isbn={978-989-758-750-4},
}

in EndNote Style

TY - CONF

JO - Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Internet of Things, Big Data and Security - Volume 1: IoTBDS
TI - Enhancing Scalability in Wi-Fi IoT Networks with Logical Data Plane Segregation Using SDN Principles
SN - 978-989-758-750-4
AU - Vieira G.
AU - Ortigoso A.
AU - Fuentes D.
AU - Frazão L.
AU - Costa N.
AU - Pereira A.
PY - 2025
SP - 378
EP - 385
DO - 10.5220/0013428800003944
PB - SciTePress