Next Generation of Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

1Wireless Communications using Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

1.1. Objectives of Wi-Fi

1.1.1. Categorization and development

Before going into the details of Wi-Fi, we need to first understand its exact position in the scope of wireless communications and networking. However, this is not a simple task, even though it is generally accepted to be a WLAN technology. Yes, it is obviously true that Wi-Fi enables devices to connect to the local area network. The first objective of the standardization of IEEE 802.11, after all, is to alleviate the problems of the traditional wired LAN services that use the Ethernet and reduce the overall costs of installing the network architecture, hence, it is named “Wireless LAN”. However, the term “local”, which may have been appropriate in its first development stage, does not grasp well anymore its current scope and potentials. Strictly just concerning the range and area of the network, there are already many IEEE 802.11 amendments that transition beyond the original term “local”. Let us take one of the more recent vehicular amendments, IEEE 802.11bd, for example. Recently been finalized, it aims to extend the range of single-hop transmission to 1000 m, being able to connect more than 100 vehicles in the vicinity of each other. Various connections that are formed are not just with routers installed on roadside infrastructures, but also with other vehicles, bicycles and scooters, and even pedestrians.

Let us observe some other amendments, for example, 802.11af ...