Editing Wireless network (section)

== Types of wireless networks ==

===Wireless PAN===
Wireless [[personal area network]]s (WPANs) connect devices within a relatively small area, that is generally within a person's reach. For example, both [[Bluetooth]] radio and invisible [[infrared]] light provides a WPAN for interconnecting a headset to a laptop. [[Zigbee]] also supports WPAN applications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wireless-nets.com/resources/downloads/wireless_industry_report_2007.html|title=Wireless Network Industry Report|access-date=8 July 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029042616/http://www.wireless-nets.com/resources/downloads/wireless_industry_report_2007.html|archive-date=29 October 2008}}</ref> Wi-Fi PANs are becoming commonplace (2010) as equipment designers start to integrate Wi-Fi into a variety of consumer electronic devices. [[Intel]] "My WiFi" and [[Windows 7]] "virtual Wi-Fi" capabilities have made Wi-Fi PANs simpler and easier to set up and configure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.informationweek.in/Software/10-04-27/Wi-Fi_personal_area_networks_get_a_boost_with_Windows_7.aspx|title=Wi-Fi Personal Area Networks get a boost with Windows 7 and Intel My WiFi|access-date=27 April 2010|archive-date=30 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100430101708/http://informationweek.in/Software/10-04-27/Wi-Fi_personal_area_networks_get_a_boost_with_Windows_7.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Wireless LAN===
[[File:LAN.png|thumb|upright=0.9|Wireless LANs are often used for connecting to local resources and to the Internet]]

A [[wireless local area network]] (WLAN) links two or more devices over a short distance using a wireless distribution method, usually providing a connection through an access point for internet access. The use of [[spread-spectrum]] or [[OFDM]] technologies may allow users to move around within a local coverage area, and still remain connected to the network.

Products using the [[IEEE 802.11]] WLAN standards are marketed under the [[Wi-Fi]] brand name.
[[Fixed wireless]] technology implements [[point-to-point (telecommunications)|point-to-point]] links between computers or networks at two distant locations, often using dedicated [[microwave]] or modulated [[laser light]] beams over [[Line-of-sight propagation|line of sight]] paths. It is often used in cities to connect networks in two or more buildings without installing a wired link.
To connect to [[Wi-Fi]] using a mobile device, one can use a device like a [[Router (computing)|wireless router]] or the [[Hotspot (Wi-Fi)|private hotspot]] capability of another mobile device.

=== Wireless ad hoc network ===
A wireless ad hoc network, also known as a [[wireless mesh network]] or [[mobile ad hoc network]] (MANET), is a wireless network made up of radio nodes organized in a mesh topology. Each node forwards messages on behalf of the other nodes and each node performs routing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Yu|first1=Jiguo|last2=Wang|first2=Nannan|last3=Wang|first3=Guanghui|last4=Yu|first4=Dongxiao|date=2013-01-01|title=Connected dominating sets in wireless ad hoc and sensor networks – A comprehensive survey|url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S014036641200374X|journal=Computer Communications|language=en|volume=36|issue=2|pages=121–134|doi=10.1016/j.comcom.2012.10.005|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Ad hoc networks can "self-heal", automatically re-routing around a node that has lost power. Various network layer protocols are needed to realize ad hoc mobile networks, such as Distance Sequenced Distance Vector routing, [[Associativity-Based Routing]], Ad hoc on-demand [[distance-vector routing]], and [[Dynamic Source Routing]].

=== Wireless MAN ===
Wireless [[metropolitan area network]]s are a type of wireless network that connects several wireless LANs.
* [[WiMAX]] is a type of Wireless MAN and is described by the [[IEEE 802.16]] standard.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.techpluto.com/wimax-in-detail/|title=Facts About WiMAX And Why Is It "The Future of Wireless Broadband"|date=20 June 2009}}</ref>

=== Wireless WAN ===
[[Wireless wide area network]]s are wireless networks that typically cover large areas, such as between neighboring towns and cities, or city and suburb. These networks can be used to connect branch offices of business or as a public Internet access system. The wireless connections between access points are usually [[Point-to-point (telecommunications)|point to point]] [[Microwave transmission|microwave links]] using [[parabolic dish]]es on the 2.4&nbsp;GHz and 5.8&nbsp;GHz band, rather than [[omnidirectional antenna]]s used with smaller networks. A typical system contains base station gateways, access points and wireless bridging relays. Other configurations are mesh systems where each access point acts as a relay also. When combined with renewable energy systems such as photovoltaic solar panels or wind systems they can be stand-alone systems.

===Cellular network===
{{main|cellular network}}
[[Image:frequency reuse.svg|thumb|Example of frequency reuse factor or pattern, for four frequencies (F1-F4)]]
A '''cellular network''' or '''mobile network''' is a radio network distributed over land areas called cells, each served by at least one fixed-location [[transceiver]], known as a [[cell site]] or [[base station]]. In a cellular network, each cell characteristically uses a different set of radio frequencies from all their immediate neighbouring cells to avoid any interference.

When joined these cells provide radio coverage over a wide geographic area. This enables a large number of portable transceivers (e.g., mobile phones, [[pager]]s, etc.) to communicate with each other and with fixed transceivers and telephones anywhere in the network, via base stations, even if some of the transceivers are moving through more than one cell during transmission.

Although originally intended for cell phones, with the development of [[smartphone]]s, [[cellular telephone network]]s routinely carry data in addition to telephone conversations:
*[[Global System for Mobile Communications]] (GSM): The GSM network is divided into three major systems: the switching system, the base station system, and the operation and support system. The cell phone connects to the base system station which then connects to the operation and support station; it then connects to the switching station where the call is transferred to where it needs to go. GSM is the most common standard and is used for a majority of cell phones.<ref>{{Cite web | title = GSM World statistics | publisher = GSM Association | year = 2010 | url = http://www.gsmworld.com/newsroom/market-data/market_data_summary.htm | access-date = 16 March 2011 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110719033744/http://www.gsmworld.com/newsroom/market-data/market_data_summary.htm | archive-date = 19 July 2011 }}</ref>
*[[Personal Communications Service]] (PCS): PCS is a radio band that can be used by mobile phones in North America and South Asia. Sprint happened to be the first service to set up a PCS.
*[[D-AMPS]]: Digital Advanced Mobile Phone Service, an upgraded version of AMPS, is being phased out due to advancements in technology. The newer GSM networks are replacing the older system.

====Private LTE/5G networks====

Private LTE/5G networks use licensed, shared or unlicensed wireless spectrum thanks to LTE or 5G cellular network base stations, small cells and other radio access network (RAN) infrastructure to transmit voice and data to edge devices (smartphones, embedded modules, routers and gateways.

3GPP defines 5G private networks as non-public networks that typically employ a smaller-scale deployment to meet an organization's needs for reliability, accessibility, and maintainability.

====Open Source====

Open source private networks are based on a collaborative, community-driven software that relies on peer review and production to use, modify and share the source code.

=== Global area network ===
A [[global area network]] (GAN) is a network used for supporting mobile across an arbitrary number of wireless LANs, satellite coverage areas, etc. The key challenge in mobile communications is handing off user communications from one local coverage area to the next. In IEEE Project 802, this involves a succession of terrestrial [[wireless LAN]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://grouper.ieee.org/groups/802/20/ |title=Mobile Broadband Wireless connections (MBWA) |access-date=12 November 2011}}</ref>

=== Space network ===
Space networks are networks used for communication between spacecraft, usually in the vicinity of the Earth. The example of this is NASA's [[Space Network]].