|
Type of Network |
Coverage Area |
Function |
Associated Cost |
Typical Throughput |
Standards |
|
Wireless Personal Area (WPAN) |
Personal Operating Space , 10 meters |
Cable replacement,personal networks |
Very low |
0.1 – 4 Mbps |
IrDA, Bluetooth , 802.15 |
|
Wireless local area network (WLAN) |
In Buildings or campuses 100 meters |
Extension or alternative to wired LAN |
Low - medium |
1-54 Mbps (increasing constantly) |
802.11a,b,g HIPERLAN/2 |
|
Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) |
Coverage on national basis from multiple carriers |
Extension of LAN |
Medium - high |
8 Kbps – 2 Mbps |
GSM, GPRS, TDMA, CDMA,EDGE, WCDMA |
|
Satellite Networks |
Global Coverage |
Extension of LAN |
Very high |
2 Kbps – 19.2 Kbps |
TDMA, CDMA, FDMA |