Wi-Fi is a cornerstone in our modern era, being used to connect hundreds of millions of devices around the world every day.
While it’s used a lot now, the technology has a history that stretches back decades. Let’s take a dive into the history and development of W-iFi.
What Does Wi-Fi Mean?
Wi-Fi is a technology that devices use to connect to the internet. Like other forms of telecommunication, it uses electromagnetic waves to send and receive data. Multiple devices can connect to a single Wi-Fi connection, making it very versatile.
Wi-Fi mainly covers two signal bands; we’ll discuss both of these below.
2.4GHz vs. 5GHz
2.4 gigahertz (GHz) is the lower energy band, and was the first to be used when Wi-Fi was officially established. It’s best when it comes to covering large areas, and better for going through walls and windows. 2.4GHz is still popular band today.
Though it’s best when it comes to coverage, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi more prone to interference. A lot of other types of devices use the this band, which makes it really easy for the connection to slow down when there are a lot of devices present.
The 5GHz band came along at a later time. With 5GHz, users can have a faster maximum speed. According to CenturyLink, 2.4GHz has a maximum connection speed of approximately 150 megabits per second (Mbps), while 5GHz caps out at about 1 gigabit per second (Gbps). Also, that band is not occupied by many other devices—so it’s harder for it to get cluttered.
Even though 5GHz has a faster connection speed, it’s not the best when it comes to coverage. Also, it’s much harder for a 5GHz signal to go through walls.
AlohaNet: The Precursor to Wi-Fi
The history of Wi-Fi begins with AlohaNet. In the late 1960s, as computer technology was growing, the need to share data between computers was also growing. The need was strong enough for faculty members at the University of Hawaii to come together and develop a way to connect computers.
During the late 1960s, this university was spread out among eight different campuses across the state. The faculty members, who were in the Electric Engineering department, got together in September 1968. They discussed a way to the computers in the university, with the main campus as the central hub.
In 1971, AlohaNet launched. With a separate piece of hardware called the Terminal Control Unit (TCU), the computer had a connection to the main campus’ IBM computer. In 1973, AlohaNet connected NASA in California—plus various universities in and outside of the US.
Building on AlohaNnet’s Early Success
The AlohaNet network grew in popularity and was instrumental in the development of different technologies. After the 1970s, some more important technologies were created which helped to make Wi-Fi what it is today.
The most important ones are listed below.
ISM Bands
In 1985, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) designated specific unlicensed signal bands that could be used for different industrial, scientific, and medical purposes. They are called ISM bands and there are three of them: 902-928 megahertz (MHz), 2400-2483.5MHz, and 5725-5850MHz. If the latter two seem familiar, those are the two signal bands that today’s Wi-Fi uses.
Since these bands are unlicensed, they can be used freely by other technologies. Bluetooth operates in the 2.4GHz range, along with devices like baby monitors and microwave ovens.
WaveLAN
Wireless technology advanced another step in 1991 when AT&T acquired NCR Systems Engineering. They created a technological standard for wireless connectivity called WaveLAN. This was used in different types of devices, starting with cash registers.
There were WaveLAN cards that users could put into their computers or laptops so that they could connect to the access point.
Throughout the decade, WaveLAN was a ubiquitous technology. It crawls compared to today’s standards with its tested 1.5Mbps speed. It had a range of about 80 feet, though, which isn’t too bad.
The 802.11 Standard
In 1997, the IEEE (Institue of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) established the 802.11 standard for wireless communication. Devices that were compatible with this standard could be used to access the internet wirelessly. Connections using the 802.11 standard had a speed of either 1Mbps or 2Mbps.
The standard has been amended numerous times since inception. Each amendment boosted the top speed of the connection. They were marked by a letter (or sometimes two letters) that would follow 802.11.
In 1999, two such amendments came about, increasing the top speed of the connection. They both launched at the same time. 802.11a ran on the 5GHz band and had a top speed of 54Mbps. 802.11b, on the other hand, ran on the 2.4GHz band and had a top speed of 11Mbps.
How Has Wi-Fi Progressed in the 21st Century?
Even though the 802.11 standard was established in 1997, the name “Wi-Fi” wasn’t coined until the summer of 1999. The Wi-Fi Alliance hired the global brand consulting company, Interbrand, to come up with the name.
Wi-Fi grew in popularity throughout the early 2000s, being implemented into more houses and industries as the years went on. With the advent of 802.11g in 2009, Wi-Fi speeds jumped to 600Mbps—more than 11 times the previous speed of 54 Mbps. In 2013, with 802.11ac, Wi-Fi crossed the 1Gbps threshold.
Wi-Fi Today and Tomorrow
Today, the latest innovation of Wi-Fi is 802.11ax—also known as Wi-Fi 6—established in 2019. It operates on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. On the 5GHz band, the speed caps out at just over 1Gbps. The 2.4GHz band can reach speeds of up to 450Mbps.
If you’re interested in learning more about 6GHz Wi-Fi, we’ve put together a handy guide discussing it.
As for the future of Wi-Fi, The Wi-Fi Alliance announced that they’re working on Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be). This new technology, however, is still in the very early stages.
It’s Been a Long Road, but Wi-Fi Is Still Evolving
Wi-Fi has come such a long way since the AlohaNet days. Beginning as a method to connect college computers, it’s become one of the most important technologies in many of our lives today.
Even though it’s come a long way, the journey is not over. In just a few years, we will be looking at Wi-Fi that’s faster than anything we’ve ever seen. And who knows how far we can push this technology?