Bandwidth Efficiency of Wireless Networks
Wireless networks are most frequently divided into four specific groups. The areas of
application and the signal range are the main criteria for this division (See Figure 1). The first
group, Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN) defines wireless networks that have a
maximal signal range of 10 meters and these networks are used for the inter-connecting the
respective devices one another. The following group complies with the standard for the
wireless networks created for the range of one room or maximally one building. This group is
called Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and its signal range is approximately 30 meters
indoors and 100 meters outdoors. The WLANs have come be to generally called the Wireless
FIdelity (WiFI), but this expression is not quite exact. The Wireless Metropolitan Area
Network (WMAN) is third group of the wireless networks. The network working in
accordance with this standard have a signal range of approximately 5 kms; they are used to
connect the user to Internet. This standard is often called Worldwide Interoperability for
Microwave Access (WiMAX). The last group is the Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN).
WWANs employ on the network infrastructure of mobile operators by means of which they
provide wireless connection covering a wide area much wider than the group mentioned
above.