What is Wireless Network Technology? Different Wireless Technology Explained!

  Wireless connections and wireless networks are basically a technology which drops the wire while connecting two or more devices together. To connect between devices this technology uses radio waves. Devices which have the same standard hardware components, they can connect each other wirelessly. There are several wireless standards and technologies available to connect different devices together to share information and data such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC etc.

The first professional wireless network was developed in 1969 at the University of Hawaii under the brand ALOHAnet. Today, we all understand wireless connectivity means connect two devices through Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technology. But these Bluetooth or Wi-Fi technology came later. The biggest wireless connectivity we can see in the telecommunication network, where every SIM card is connected through the mobile phones, towers and the satellites.

In terms of  connecting two or more devices as local area network, to transfer data/information or to use a device as the remote device, we all now a day use wireless technology directly or via different application software. This wireless technology also has different standards and technologies which were developed over times. They were discussed below -


Infrared -

The name ''Infra-red" means below red. Infrared is basically color of light which is almost invisible to the human eye. It has a wave frequency, a lowest frequency light that human can see. This technology was used in early smartphones and feature phones to built a connectivity which helps to share data between devices. Different technologies also included with infrared to enhance its usability.

Infrared used in smartphones cameras in early days to measure objects with its lights to produce a better picture. Infrared technology used in remote controllers of TVs, ACs etc. to built a wireless connectivity. Early smartphones also used infrared to exchange information and data. The standard used in these phones was IrDA- Infrared Data Association. In today's wireless technology, infrared used in smartphones to use it as a remote controller of ACs, TVs etc. One of the leading Chinese smartphone maker Xiaomi uses in its smartphones as an IR Blaster.

Infrared can transmit data up to one meter distance at speeds up to 16 Mbps.


Bluetooth - 

Bluetooth wireless technology standard used for building personal area network which works through radio waves to transfer / exchange data between fixed and mobile devices. Bluetooth is developed and managed by Bluetooth special Interest Group. This technology provide a shortrange connectivity between devices with a range of 10 meters.

Bluetooth received technological enhancements over times and upgraded in different versions by developers. Different Bluetooth versions as follows -

Bluetooth 1.0  - It is the first generation Bluetooth technology. It can transmit data at speeds up to 721 Kbit/S.

Bluetooth 2.0 - It comes with EDR - Enhanced Data Rate technology for faster connectivity. It can transmit data at speeds of up to 2.1 Mbit/S.

Bluetooth 3.0 - It comes high speed transmission technology. It can transmit data theoretically at speeds of up to 24 Mbit/S. Hence, which devices display the "+HS" logo that devices only supports high speed transmission.

Bluetooth 4.0 - This version of Bluetooth also called Bluetooth Smart and adopted in 2020. This version provides high speed data transmission as well as seamless connectivity between various eligible devices.

Bluetooth 5.0 - The Bluetooth SIG released Bluetooth 5.0 in 2016. It has focused to feature IoT - Internet of Things devices. This latest Bluetooth technology comes with long range support of connectivity and wide range of supported devices.

Now,  Bluetooth technology used to connect various mobile devices, audio devices, health check devices, IoT devices, smart speakers, PDAs, optical mouse and key board etc.

Wi-Fi - 


Wi-Fi is a wireless network protocol based on the standard IEEE 802.11, used as local area network (LAN) between devices to exchange data and Internet. Wi-Fi was introduced back in 1998. The name Wi-Fi stands for Wireless Fidelity. This Wi-Fi is a very common technology now a day. We can see different routers, mobile devices, smart TVs etc. in our household which has the technology enabled.
Wi-Fi has several generations which introduced new standards and technologies over times.

Wi-Fi 1 was introduced in 1999 which was based on IEEE 802.11b standard. It provide 11 Mbit/S of maximum link rate and works on 2.4 GHz frequency.

Wi-Fi 2 was introduced in 1999 which was based on IEEE 802.11a standard. It provide 1.5 - 54 Mbit/S of maximum link rate and works on 5 GHz frequency.

Wi-Fi 3 was introduced in 2003 which was based on IEEE 802.11g standard. It provide 3 - 54 Mbit/S of maximum link rate and works on 2.4 GHz frequency.

Wi-Fi 4 was introduced in 2009 which was based on IEEE 802.11n standard. It provide 72 - 600 Mbit/S of maximum link rate and works on 2.4 / 5 GHz frequency.

Wi-Fi 5 was introduced in 2014 which was based on IEEE 802.11ac standard. It provide 433 - 6933 Mbit/S of maximum link rate and works on 5 GHz frequency.

Wi-Fi 6 was introduced in 2019 which was based on IEEE 802.11ax standard. It provide 600 - 9608 Mbit/S of maximum link rate and works on 2.4 / 5 GHz frequency.


Wi-Fi is mainly used to provide Internet access and also exchange data between devices.


Li-Fi - 

Li-Fi stands for Light Fidelity. It was introduced in 2011 by Herald Hass. Li-Fi is light communication system which used LED lamps to transmit data at a high speed. The main difference between Wi-Fi and Li-Fi is that Wi-Fi uses radio waves and Li-Fi uses light intensity to transmit data. Li-Fi can theoretically transmit at speeds of up to 100 Gbit/S.

NFC - 

NFC stands for Near-Field Communication. It is a communication  technology used to establish communication between two electronic devices within the range of 4 cm. It is a low speed communication technology used in contactless payment system.