Wi-Fi and the GSM Family of Technologies

Wi-Fi is a wireless local area network (WLAN) technology based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards, which includes 802.11a, b and g. There are several key differences between cellular and Wi-Fi. For example, Wi-Fi signals have a range of about 200 feet, while GSM signals can travel for several miles. Wi-Fi also uses unlicensed spectrum, so unlike GSM, it has no inherent protection from interference.

Wi-Fi is used for a variety of applications. One of the most common is home and business WLANs. The other is “hot spots,” where users with an 802.11 PC card modem, hybrid cellular/Wi-Fi handset or laptop with an embedded modem get Internet access for free or for a fee. Hot spots are typically found in public areas such as airports and cafés. In 2006, the number of hot spots worldwide grew 47 percent to 1,437,000 according to ABI Research, an independent analyst firm. Nearly 75 percent are in Europe and North America, but by 2011, the Asia-Pacific region will have the most hot spots, ABI predicts.

Wireless operators frequently combine Wi-Fi with their 2G and/or 3G networks as a way to give their customers more options for accessing the Internet and data services. By offering adjunct Wi-Fi services, operators can leverage the installed base of Wi-Fi PC card modems and laptops with embedded 802.11 modems. One example of this strategy is T-Mobile HotSpot, which launched in 2002 as a complement to the company’s GPRS network.

This section provides an overview of Wi-Fi and how it can be linked to GSM-based networks.

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