Wi-Fi

Evolution and
its Working
Submitted by

: Vipul Sinha

Roll no.

: 795/IT/14

Branch and Section

: IT-2

College

: NSIT

Course No.

: IT-309

Guided by
Tanushre Chaudhary

: Mrs

Summary

The topic of the report is Wi-Fi Evolution and its Working. Wi-Fi is a
technology that allows electronic devices to connect to a wireless
LAN network, mainly using the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radio bands. WiFis evolution since 1999 has been marked by continued
advancement. After the formation of Wireless Ethernet Compatibility
Alliance in 1999, it later changed its name to Wi-Fi alliance in 2000
as its final name. At that time, this technology was able to deliver
only 11Mbps speed in 2.4GHz band but later it increased to 54 Mbps
by the end of 2002. Later in 2004, a much needed security feature
was introduced so that no undesired device could connect to any
network without knowing the password key. With these
advancements, by the end of 2012 almost 25% of the Homes
worldwide had a Wi-Fi device/router. Like mobile phones, a Wi-Fi
network makes use of radio waves to transmit information across a
network. The computer should include a wireless adapter that will
translate data sent into a radio signal and this signal will be
transmitted, via an antenna to router and this data will be sent to the
Internet through a wired Ethernet connection. There are many
advantages of using Wi-Fi i.e. convenience, mobility, productivity,
deployment, expandability and cost but, there are also some
limitations like limited range, traffic congestion which needs to be
resolved in the coming future. In next 15 years, the alliance promises
more innovative devices and groundbreaking applications.

Table of Contents
Topic Name

Page No.

1. Introduction

2. Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity)

3. Evolution of Wi-Fi

3.1 1999-2008
(I) Increased Speed
(II) Added Security (WPA-2)
3.2 2009-2014
(I)The Gigabit barrier
4.
Working

of

Wi-Fi

4.1 Working principle

4.2 Security
4.3 Types of Wi-Fi technologies
5.

Advantages

6
6.

Disadvantages

6
7.

Conclusion

7
8.
8

References

1. Introduction
The purpose of this report is to describe how Wi-Fi has evolved
over the past 15 years and how it works. Wi-Fi has emerged as
the single most popular wireless network protocol of the 21st
century. While other wireless protocols work better in certain
situations, Wi-Fi technology powers most home networks, many
business local area networks and public hotspot network. It
connects people through internet without any hassle of wires. WiFi enabled devices (laptops or PDAs) can send and receive data
wirelessly from any location equipped with Wi-Fi access. This
report begins with what Wi-Fi really means and how it evolved in
the past 15 years. This report starts with the past 1999 when the
first Wi-Fi alliance was formed, and how this alliance worked with
the technology and science to add more coverage, speed and
security to Wi-Fi. It briefly describes the working principle of Wi-Fi
and covers the types of Wi-Fi technologies. In the coming years,
the
alliance
promises
more
innovative
devices
and
groundbreaking applications. Advantages and disadvantages are
stated with a conclusion to the report at the end.

2. Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity)

Wi-Fi is a popular wireless networking technology. Wi-Fi

stands for wireless fidelity. The Wi-Fi was invented by
NCR corporation/AT&T in Netherlands in 1991. By using
this technology we can exchange the information
between two or more devices. Wi-Fi has been developed
for mobile computing devices, such has laptops, but it is
now extensively using for mobile applications and
consumer electronics like televisions, DVD players and

digital cameras. There should be two possibilities in

communicating with the Wi-Fi connection that may be
through access point to the client connection or client to
client connection. Wi-Fi is a one type of wireless
technology. It is commonly called as wireless LAN (local
area network). Wi-Fi allows local area networks to operate
without cable and wiring. It is making popular choice for
home and business networks. A computers wireless
adaptor transfers the data into a radio signal and
transfers the data into antenna for users.

3. Evolution
3.1 1999-2008
(I)Increased Speed
In 1999, first alliance called WECA was formed to coin the word
Wi-Fi which stands for Wireless Fidelity. By the end of 2000, it
was able to deliver 11 Mbps speed in 2.4 GHz band and also the
alliance changed its name to the Wi-Fi alliance. Later in 2002,
with the help of technology Wi-Fi was able to give a speed of
54Mbps in 5 GHz band, with also membership surpassing 100
members. In 2003, the same speed was made available in the 2.4
GHz band which was more common among common public.

(II) Added Security (WPA-2)

WPA became available in 2003. Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2)
is two security protocols and security certification programs
developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance to secure wireless computer
networks. The Alliance defined these in response to serious
weaknesses researchers had found in the previous system, Wired

Equivalent Privacy (WEP). WPA2 replaced WPA. WPA2, which

requires testing and certification by the Wi-Fi Alliance, implements
the mandatory elements of IEEE 802.11i. In particular, it includes
mandatory support for CCMP, an AES-based encryption mode with
strong security.

3.2 2009-2014
(I)In 2009, the Wi-Fi device shipments surpassed 600 million and
it increased to double by the end of 2011. In 2012, 25% of homes
worldwide had a Wi-Fi device/router. Finally in 2013, Wi-Fi alliance
and Wig if alliance unified. Wi-Fi
Certified ac technology breached the gigabit barrier by providing
data speed rate of up to 1 Gbps. More than 20000 devices were
certified by Wi-Fi alliance in 2014.

4. Working of Wi-Fi
4.1 Working Principle:
Wi-Fi is a high speed internet connection and network connection
without use of any cables or wires. The wireless network is
operating three essential elements that are radio signals, antenna
and router. The radio waves are keys which make the Wi-Fi
networking possible. The computers and cell phones are ready
with Wi-Fi cards. Wi-Fi compatibility has been using a new creation
to constituent within the ground connected with community
network. The actual broadcast is connected with in sequence in
fact it is completed by way of stereo system surf as well as the
worth of wires with monitor to classification prone. Wi-Fi allows
the person in order to get access to web any place in the actual
provided area.
The radio signals are transmitted from antennas and routers that
signals are picked up by Wi-Fi receivers, such as computers and

cell phones that are ready with Wi-Fi cards. Whenever the
computer receives the signals within the range of 100-150 feet for
router it connect the device immediately. The range of the Wi-Fi is
depends upon the environment, indoor or outdoor ranges. The WiFi cards will read the signals and create an internet connection
between user and network. The speed of the device using Wi-Fi
connection increases as the computer gets closer to the main
source and speed is decreases computer gets further away.
Many new laptops, mobile phones have inbuilt Wi-Fi card you
dont have to do anything which is one of the best thing. If it is a
free- based type of network connection the user will be promoted
with a login id and password. The free base network connections
also well in some areas. The Wi-Fi network connection is creating
hot spots in the cities. The hot spots are a connection point of WiFi network. It is a small box that is hardwired in to the internet.
There are many Wi-Fi hot spots available in public places like
restaurants, airports, and hotels offices, universities etc.

4.2 Security:
Security is impartment element in the Wi-Fi technology. Security is
our personal decision but having a wireless connection we should
pay attention to protect our private details. We can connect easily
to unsecured wireless routers. The problem is any one is
connected to your wireless router using the data like download
games, download apps and planning terrorist activities, shirring
illegal music and movie files etc. So it is necessary to provide
security to the wireless technologies based devices.

4.3 Types of WI-FI Technologies:

Currently they are four major types of WIFI technologies:o

Wi-Fi-802.11a

Wi-Fi-802.11b

Wi-Fi-802.11g

Wi-Fi-802.11n
802.11a is the one of a series of wireless technology. That defines
the format and structure of the radio signals sent out by WI-FI
networking routers and antennas.
Wi-Fi-802.11b:
802.11b is the one of a series of wireless technology. 802. 11b
support bandwidth 11mbps. Signal in unregulated frequency
spectrum around 2.4 GHz. This is a low frequency compared with
Wi-Fi-802.11a means it is working reasonable distance. It is lowcost; signal range is good using home appliance.

Wi-Fi-802.11g:
It is best technology of 802.11a and 802.11b. The 802.11 b
support bandwidth up to 54mbps and it use a 2.4 GHz frequency
for greater range.
Wi-Fi-802.11n:
The 802.11n is the newest WIFI technology. It was designed to
improve on 802.11g. It supports 100 mbps bandwidth and
increased signal intensity.

5. Advantages:
o

Wireless laptop can be moved from one place to another

place

Wi-Fi network communication devices without wire can

reduce the cost of wires.

Wi-Fi setup and configuration is easy than cabling process

It is completely safe and it will not interfere with any network

We can also connect internet via hot spots

We can connect internet wirelessly

6. Disadvantages:
o

Wi-Fi generates radiations which can harm the human health

We must disconnect the Wi-Fi connection whenever we are

not using the server

There are some limits to transfer the data, we cant transfer

the data for long distance

Wi-Fi implementation is very expensive when compared to

the wired connection

7. Conclusion
This report has covered the major evolution period of Wi-Fi along
with the new added features from time to time, and the brief
description of its working principle. No technology is perfect, and
Wi-Fi possesses its share of limitations. Network traffic sent across
Wi-Fi networks passes through open air making it prone to
snooping from malicious strangers. Wireless radio signals like those
from Wi-Fi networks cause headaches, nausea and other physical
issues. Expanding the range of a Wi-Fi network requires installing
additional access points configured to communicate with each
other, which becomes expensive and difficult to support, especially
outdoors. WPA2 security feature, higher data rates of up to 1Gbps
and low latency are the major features added since 1999. In next
15 years, the alliance promises more innovative devices and
groundbreaking applications.

8. References:
http://www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/15-years-of-wi-fi
https://www.wikipedia.org/
https://www.elprocus.com/how-does-wifi-work/