What Is a Wireless Network? Types of Wireless Network | Fortinet (2023)

A wireless network refers to a computer network that makes use of Radio Frequency (RF) connections between nodes in the network. Wireless networks are a popular solution for homes, businesses, and telecommunications networks.

It is common for people to wonder “what is a wireless network” because while they exist nearly everywhere people live and work, how they work is often a mystery. Similarly, people often assume that all wireless is Wi-Fi, and many would be surprised to discover that the two are not synonymous. Both use RF, but there are many different types of wireless networks across a range of technologies (Bluetooth, ZigBee, LTE, 5G), while Wi-Fi is specific to the wireless protocol defined by the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) in the 802.11 specification and it’s amendments.

At the most obvious, a wireless network keeps devices connected to a network while still allowing them the freedom to move about, unencumbered by wires. A wired network, on the other hand, makes use of cables that connect devices to the network. These devices are often desktop or laptop computers but can also include scanners and point-of-sale machines.

There are more subtle technology differences that come in to play between wired and wireless. Most modern wired networks are now “full duplex”, meaning that they can be transmitting/receiving packets in both directions simultaneously. In addition, most wired networks have a dedicated cable that runs to each end user device.

In a Wi-Fi network, the medium (the radio frequency being used for the network) is a shared resource, not just for the users of the network, but often for other technologies as well (Wi-Fi operates in what are called ‘shared’ bands, where many different electronic devices are approved to operate). This has several implications: 1) unlike a wired network, wireless can’t both talk and listen at the same time, it is “half duplex” 2) All users are sharing the same space must take turns to talk 3) everyone can ‘hear’ all traffic going on. This has forced Wi-Fi networks to implement various security measures over the years to protect the confidentiality of information passed wirelessly.

A metropolitan-area network is a computer network that spans across a city, small geographical area, or business or college campus. One feature that differentiates a MAN from a LAN is its size. A LAN usually consists of a solitary building or area. A MAN can cover several square miles, depending on the needs of the organization.

Several components make up a wireless network’s topology:

1. Clients: What we tend to think of as the end user devices are typically called ‘clients’. As the reach of Wi-Fi has expanded, a variety of devices may be using Wi-Fi to connect the network, including phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, and more. This gives users the ability to move about the area without sacrificing their bridge to the network. In some instances, mobility within an office, warehouse, or other work area is necessary. For example, if employees have to use scanners to register packages due to be shipped, a wireless network provides the flexibility they need to freely move about the warehouse.
2. Access Point (AP): An access point (AP) consists of a Wi-Fi that is advertising a network name (known as a Service Set Identifier, or SSID). Users who connect to this network will typically find their traffic bridged to a local-area network (LAN) wired network (like Ethernet) for communication to the larger network or even the internet.

A Wi-Fi based wireless network sends signals using radio waves (cellular phones and radios also transmit over radio waves, but at different frequencies and modulation).

In a typical Wi-Fi network, the AP (Access Point) will advertise the specific network that it offers connectivity to. This is called a Service Set Identifier (SSID) and it is what users see when they look at the list of available networks on their phone or laptops. The AP advertises this by way of transmissions called beacons. The beacon can be thought of as an announcement saying “Hello, I have a network here, if it’s the network you’re looking for, you can join”.

A client device receives the beacon transmitted by the AP and converts the RF signal into digital data, then that data is passed along to the device for interpretation. If the user wants to connect to the network, it can send messages to the AP trying to join and (when security is enabled) providing the proper credentials to prove they have the right to join. These processes are known as Association & Authentication. If either of these fail, the device will not successfully join the network and will be unable to further communicate with the AP.

Assuming all goes well, we come to the part that is the end user’s ultimate goal: passing data. Data from the client (or from the AP to the client) is converted from digital data into an RF modulated signal and transmitted over the air. When received, this is de-modulated, converted back to digital data, and then forwarded along to its destination (often the internet or a resource on the larger internal network).

802.11ac was only specified for the 5GHz band. It built upon the mechanisms introduced in 802.11n. While not as revolutionary as 802.11n was, it still extended speeds and capabilities in the 5GHz band. Most devices currently out in the wild are likely 802.11ac devices.

The term “Wi-Fi hotspot” usually refers to wireless networks placed in public areas, like coffee shops, to allow people to connect to the internet without having to have special credentials. While some are free, others require a fee, particularly those administered by companies that specialize in the provision of hotspots in places like airports or bus terminals.

Many cell phones are hotspot-enabled, and users can turn on the feature by contacting their cell service provider. With a hotspot turned on, the user can share their internet connection with someone else, providing them with a password for more secure access.

Wi-Fi management and security helps prevent unwanted users and data from harming devices connected to your network. With the Fortinet Wireless Access Points,you get a full view of the network and devices that are accessing it. It integrates with the Fortinet Security Fabric, allows for cloud access point management, and comes with a dedicated controller.

The FortiGate Integrated Wireless Management system gives you an enhanced security solution that incorporates fewer components, making it a simpler solution. As a next-generation firewall (NGFW), FortiGate provides full network visibility while automating protective measures and detecting and stopping more threats.