Global adoption of wireless connectivity has skyrocketed in recent years, with Wi-Fi routers alone now exceeding 165 million shipments per year. This reflects surging reliance on mobile access – Cisco estimates nearly 30 billion devices and connections will be added through 2023, fueled by expansion of 5G cellular networks and the Internet of Things (IoT).
As cutting edge technologies like augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), and smart cities come online, high-performance wireless connectivity will serve as their backbone. Examining the capabilities of prominent wireless network types provides greater perspective on which applications they are best suited for.
Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPANs)
Wireless personal area networks (WPANs) are designed for direct device-to-device communications over distances within 30 feet. WPANs are commonly associated with Bluetooth technology, which has undergone several major iterations to bolster speed and functionality.
| Bluetooth Version | Maximum Data Rate | Notable Features |
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth 5.2 | 3 Mbps+ | LE Audio, isochronous channels, angle of arrival, ultra-wideband |
| Bluetooth 5.1 | 2 Mbps | Audio sharing (hearing aids), find me profile |
| Bluetooth 5 | 2 Mbps | 4x range, 2x speed |
| Bluetooth 4.2 | 25 Mbps | Internet protocol support |
Bluetooth sees widespread integration into consumer electronics, home appliances, medical devices, and smart city infrastructure for proximity-based use cases. Key applications include:
- Stream audio to wireless headphones, earbuds, speakers
- Enable indoor navigation and wayfinding via beaconing
- Support IoT ecosystems of appliances, lighting, security systems
- Transmit fitness tracker biometrics to mobile apps
- Allow hands-free control of AR/VR headsets
- Securely unlock doors equipped with smart locks
Setting up a WPAN only requires creating a paired connection between participating devices, enabling convenient localized interactions. Their low power draw maximizes battery runtime for portability. However, WPANs sacrifice range and multi-user scalability relative to other wireless networks.
Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs)
Wireless local area networks (WLANs) offer internet connectivity and resource access within a specific geographic area through Wi-Fi protocol. Contemporary WLAN capabilities are defined under the latest Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and the forthcoming Wi-Fi 7 standard:
| Standard | Max Speed | Key Features | Use Cases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi 7 | 30-40 Gbps | Very low latency 3300 MHz bandwidth |
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| Wi-Fi 6E | 10 Gbps | 6 GHz band 14 additional 80 MHz channels |
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| Wi-Fi 6 | 9.6 Gbps | OFDMA modulation Target wake time |
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Modern WLANs can provide sufficient performance for even high data rate applications across dozens or hundreds of concurrent users. To secure these large-scale connections, WLANs implement advanced encryption like WPA, WPA2, and WPA3 for robust defense against intrusions.
With versatile speed, range, and scalability, WLANs have emerged as the preferred wireless access medium for:
- Smart homes and offices
- Schools and universities
- Retail, dining, and entertainment complexes
- Hotels and event spaces
- Medical centers and hospitals
- Urban transportation hubs
Theirgrowing utility across practically all environments makes WLANs currently the most common wireless network type deployed globally.
Wireless Wide Area Networks (WWANs)
Wireless wide area networks (WWANs) deliver connectivity across vast expansions equivalent to entire regions, countries, or continents. WWANs rely on cellular carrier infrastructure, including cell towers and satellites, to transmit data through licensed radio spectrum. This enables mobile devices equipped with cellular network adapters to maintain internet access wherever cellular signals are broadcast:
| Cellular Network Generation | Max Download Speed |
|---|---|
| 5G mmWave | 4 Gbps |
| 5G Sub-6 GHz | 100 Mbps |
| 4G LTE Advanced | 1 Gbps |
The high mobility offered by WWANs provides users with opportunities for communication, information access, navigation, and remote working wherever they travel. However, mobile carriers impose monthly access charges with data use limitations based on speed throttling thresholds and roaming policies across network territories.
Applications well-suited for WWAN connectivity include:
- Real-time navigation and mapping
- Media streaming and cloud storage
- Business messaging and transactions
- Deploying mobile apps
- Supporting remote and traveling employees
The extensive coverage of modern cellular networks translates to WWANs reaching over 5 billion subscribers globally – more than any other wireless network variety.
Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WMANs)
Wireless metropolitan area networks (WMANs) function as special high-speed backbone networks linking multiple wireless LANs across cities and towns through standards like WiMAX. They carry wider area traffic aggregates using licensed spectrum allocations before dispersing sessions out to destinations through edge WLANs integrated into buildings and infrastructure.
Some smart city development projects have utilized WMANs as foundational transit networks due to their multi-mile range and capability to supply hundreds of Megabits per second of symmetrical throughput. Researchers at the UMKC Innovation Center found WMANs can provide such next-generation portable connectivity at fraction of the cost of trenching fiber optics across metro zones.
Select technology vendors offer WMAN hardware optimized for large-scale service delivery:
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Cambium Networks – Offers point-to-point and point-to-multipoint WMAN bridge/backhaul systems capable of reaching distances up to 155 miles with high reliability. Their PTP 820 platform supports encrypted throughput of 2.5 Gbps aggregate speed using dual band protocols.
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Ceragon Networks – Provides compact all-outdoor WMAN solutions designed for secure traffic aggregation from enterprise branch locations distributed across municipalities. Built-in encryption, quality of service controls, and network management features help simplify deployment.
With expertise in planning topology and capacity requirements, WMANs afford municipalities and organizations powerful means to construct wireless broadband foundations for smart cities and campuses.
The variety of wireless network alternatives available, each with unique strengths and limitations, necessitates mapping options against connectivity objectives to identify optimal fits.
For personal gadgets, WPANs offer simple setup for basic wireless interfacing with phones and computers. However, their range tops out at only 30 feet.
WLANs emerge as the standard network for indoor spaces given Wi-Fi ubiquity, versatility to support many devices simultaneously, and availability of high speed tiers. But reliability may decay at far distances or through dense barriers.
WWANs provide unmatched mobility yet levy monthly fees and throttle speeds past allotted data caps. Further, cell signal strength fluctuates location to location.
And WMANs can extend quality coverage across metro scales but require expertise for extensive installation.
In many cases, multiple wireless network types may be leveraged in conjunction to maximize benefits. For example, a business can maintain a WLAN for in-building connectivity while equipping critical personnel with WWAN devices for secure access on the go.
Determining ideal wireless network(s) for one‘s objectives entails an assessment of:
- Device Types – Compatibility with wired and wireless interface standards
- Traffic Volume – Bandwidth and speed necessary to avoid bottlenecks
- Mobility Requirements – Ranges for stationary versus moving connectivity
- Existing Infrastructure – Ability to integrate with current systems
- Security Precautions – Data protection measures to counter intrusions
- Budget – Upfront and ongoing affordability
If you have questions on mapping wireless solutions to your needs, please contact our technology consultants to develop network designs tailored for high performance, scalability, and value across private and public access mediums. We stay up-to-date on the latest wireless advancements so that you can focus on operating your business, not the infrastructure behind it.
