WiFi and 4G Technology and Usage in Todays Business World

Wireless fidelity, more commonly known as WiFi, is a form of transmission media that uses radio waves to transmit data from electronic devices to a computer network. Many electronic devises today already come WiFi ready, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops. Desktop computers will have to be equipped with a wireless network interface card, and all of these WiFi products will then connect to a building’s wireless access point. If your building has a computer/internet network, then WiFi can be incorporated into your network. This network is more generally known as a wireless local area network. Products equipped with WiFi capabilities use the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 802.11 standards; these standards must be met and approved by Wi-Fi Alliance in order for any devices to carry the “Wi-Fi Certified” designation.

General Managers of any business should be aware of some of the benefits of adopting WiFi into their business network. First off, the use of WiFi in society has spread rapidly since inception and is a fairly common transmission media in today’s standards, and makes it is a tested and proven method of transmitting data. For an already built building, installing or upgrading a computer network that utilizes WiFi may be more cost effective overall, since it is less invasive to incorporate than the installation of a network composed entirely of wires and cables, which requires more labor, materials and in turn, costs. Also, network wires and cables cannot always be run through all areas of a building because of the physical properties of the walls, ceiling or floor. This is where a WiFi network is invaluable for a manager’s operations. For managers and employees who need an Internet connection indoors for their tablet or smartphone to carry out business, WiFi is a more reliable and cheaper solution than relying on a mobile network such as 3G since mobile network signals can quickly deteriorate inside. The newest standard of WiFi, 802.11ac, is 3 times the speed of the previous generation, providing speeds suitable for business needs.

For those managers who work in a business that deal with customers in their building, providing a free WiFi connection can provide an experience other competing businesses do not provide and can truly differentiate your company. Just be aware that too many wireless signals and products concentrated in an area can cause "WiFi pollution", where the wireless signals conflict with each other causing disruptions in data transfer; of course your IT department should already know of this. Just a side note for managers: many products state that a device is Bluetooth capable, this is not the same as WiFi; although they are both wireless connections using radio waves, Bluetooth is used for removing any wire connections between electrical devices and connects them wirelessly, whereas WiFi connects electronic devices to the internet or LAN of a building's network wirelessly. Lastly, transmitting confidential information via WiFi may pose security risks. Current WiFi systems are more secure than previous generations but it is still not as secure as an fibre optic connection, which is not susceptible to data interception.

A visual may help to understand how a wireless system is set up

For business users who require an internet connection while commuting, being near a WiFi “hotspot” can become problematic. Managers may want to supply their employees with a mobile data network connection for their electronic devices. The newest mobile network is the 4G network which many providers are now offering; 4G transmits data via satellite and radio towers.  4G network providers boasts data transfer speeds up to 42 Mbps, but in reality tests have shown only about 1/10^th that speed is achieved. As this technology matures, this speed should increase. 4G is also expected to be more reliable than previous generation networks, providing seamless connectivity in a geographical location. For business managers, reliability is essential since, for example not being able to send an important email to clients or employees at the right time can be detrimental for business.

This video explains what differentiates 4G from 3G technology,

 

The use of wireless transmission media is only growing and is a technology every business should be familiar with. Utilizing this technology appropriately will strengthen an information system and be advantageous to the business process.