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What is a Wireless Network?
A wireless network is a computer network that uses radio frequencies (RFs) to connect multiple devices in the same location. Wireless networks are now the most common source of Internet connectivity, used in mobile telecoms systems, corporate networks, and at home.
The prevalence of Wi-Fi has made the term synonymous with wireless networking. However, it’s only one of many different wireless modalities. Wireless networks can also be based on technologies like LTE, 5G, Bluetooth, and others.
Key Takeaways
- Wireless networks are an essential feature of the modern digital economy.
- By replacing wires with radio waves, they bring freedom and simplicity to the way we use computing devices.
- Wireless networks include mobile broadband telecommunications networks, most corporate wireless LANs, and home networks.
- They revolve around the interplay between access points and endpoints.
- There are many different types of wireless network connectivity, though Wi-Fi is the best-known.
How Does a Wireless Network Work?
Wireless networks operate via radio waves sent and received using specialized radio frequencies. Connectable devices like laptops, smartphones, tablets and desktop PCs use the radio waves to transmit data, and to receive it.
Wireless networks center around the relationship between access points and endpoints. The access point could be a mobile network cellular tower or a Wi-Fi router, and will have a name or identifier that the endpoint (laptop, smartphone, etc.) recognizes. In a Wi-Fi network this is called a Service Set Identifier (SSID). In a mobile telecoms network it is called the Access Point Name (APN). In both cases the access point advertises itself to nearby endpoints by sending out transmissions or ‘beacons’.
The endpoint device reads the beacon and displays a message that the network exists and is available to connect. If the user wants to connect their device, they complete a security protocol and enter preset credentials like a password or PIN in order to join. If the access point can’t authenticate the endpoint, the attempt to connect will fail.
Components of a Wireless Network
Benefits of a Wireless Network
The main benefit of a wireless network is mobility. Users can connect their devices to the internet without being tethered to a desk or other dongle location. Wireless connectivity can also be easier to enable, with straightforward authentication via password or PIN.
Types of Wireless Network
A local-area network (LAN) provides Internet connectivity at a single location such as a mall, factory or building.
LANs can be either wireless or wired, with Wi-Fi being the most common wireless LAN. They are used to link a variety of endpoints like laptops, printers, and tablets within a strictly controlled environment.
LANs use routers as access points, alongside other components like firewalls, switches, and ethernet cables, for their physical architecture.
A wide-area network (WAN) is a wireless network that provides connectivity over a large geographic area like a city or county.
Mobile broadband networks are the most common type of WAN.
A WAN may also provide the connectivity for smaller local networks like LANs.
A metropolitan area network (MAN) is a type of wireless network that provides connectivity for a densely-populated geographic area, perhaps a small city, large business or university campus. Size is what distinguishes a MAN from a LAN.
A LAN is designed for a single building while a MAN can provide connectivity across several square miles.
A personal area network (PAN) enables individuals to create a network using their own devices in a single location.
A PAN is sometimes used to link smartphones, laptops, gaming consoles, in a home or small office.
Bluetooth is the most commonly used connectivity mode for PANs.
Wireless Network vs. Wired Network
As the name suggests, a wired network links devices to the network using physical wires called Ethernet cables. Devices connected to a wired network can be desktop or laptop computers, point-of-sale devices at store checkouts, printers, and scanners.
In a wireless network, devices are connected to an Internet router, but users retain the freedom to move freely. Radio signals replace wires as the medium of connection for all the connected devices.
Wireless Network Standards
The most commonly used wireless standards for Wi-Fi connectivity are all based on IEEE 802.11, a set of technical standards for local area networks (LANs).
The Bottom Line
Wireless networks by definition let users roam untethered while remaining connected. By using radio signals instead of wires, they allow devices to be far away from an access point but still linked to the network.
When you first activate a mobile phone SIM card or connect to a Wi-Fi hotspot in a restaurant or airport lounge, you’re connecting to a wireless network.
Their widespread adoption has enabled remote and mobile working and the rise of the smartphone. Modern computing would look very different without them.
