Differences between WLAN and Wi-Fi: WLAN, or wireless local area network, and Wi-Fi are both wireless networking technologies, but there are differences in their technical aspects and implementations. While Wi-Fi is a specific type of WLAN technology that operates over the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, WLAN can refer to any wireless network within a confined space, which may include other protocols like Bluetooth or Zigbee. Wi-Fi is the most commonly used WLAN technology, providing wireless connectivity for devices like laptops, smartphones, and smart home devices. - Wi-Fi and WLAN: Understanding the Distinctions
In 1999, the world was introduced to Wi-Fi 1 (IEEE 802.11b), a groundbreaking standard for wireless network connections that offered a maximum transmission rate of 11 Megabits per second (MBit/s). This marked the beginning of a journey that would see Wi-Fi's capabilities soar to multi-gigabit rates.
Following Wi-Fi 1, Wi-Fi 2 (IEEE 802.11a) was launched in the same year, offering a significant boost with up to 54 MBit/s. However, it operated on higher frequency bands, resulting in a shorter range. Wi-Fi 3 (IEEE 802.11g), introduced in 2003, combined the advantages of 802.11a and 802.11b, offering up to 54 MBit/s with a greater range.
The advent of Wi-Fi 4 (IEEE 802.11n) in 2009 was a game-changer. It expanded range and increased the transmission rate to up to 600 MBit/s, making it the first standard to use multiple antennas (MIMO) for enhanced speeds.
Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac), introduced in 2014, took things to a new level, offering speeds of up to several 1.3 Gigabits per second (GBit/s) and improved efficiency. Wi-Fi 5 operates primarily on the 5 GHz band, providing faster speeds with less interference.
The latest addition to the Wi-Fi family is Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11ax), which transmits up to 46 GBit/s and offers three frequency bands (2.4, 5, and 6 GHz) for the first time. Introduced in 2019, Wi-Fi 6 boasts advanced antenna technologies like multi-user MIMO (MU-MIMO) for improved efficiency and reliability.
In 2020, Wi-Fi 6E was introduced, extending Wi-Fi 6 into the new 6 GHz band, providing the same top speeds but with more spectrum and less interference, ideal for ultra-fast and low-latency connections in close range.
It's important to note that Wi-Fi is a brand name created by the Wi-Fi Alliance, an organization in the network industry, and describes a standard for wireless network connections. Devices without Wi-Fi certification can still communicate wirelessly using the Wi-Fi standard.
Choosing a router with the latest Wi-Fi standard is not always necessary, as the number of devices in the network also plays a role in determining the required bandwidth. For instance, a mesh network that works with Wi-Fi 6 might be a more sensible investment than an expensive Wi-Fi 7 router.
By 2025, most routers are expected to operate on two different frequency bands, with short waves offering more bandwidth and long waves covering a greater distance. This development is set to further enhance Wi-Fi's capabilities, making it an even more indispensable part of our daily lives.
[1] https://www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/history-of-wi-fi [2] https://www.techradar.com/news/wi-fi-6-vs-wi-fi-5-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-standard
The Commission, in its endeavor to diversify regulatory actions, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionizing radiation while working on home-and-garden projects that involve data-and-cloud-computing technologies and advanced lifestyle practices, such as home-automation systems and wellness devices.
In the realm of technology, the transition from Wi-Fi 5 to Wi-Fi 6 marks a significant leap in the wireless network industry, with potential applications of these high-speed connections extending to various sectors, including the protection and well-being of workers in diverse fields, such as those mentioned above.
