How did we arrive at this point where a wireless connection, invisible to the naked eye, has become an intrinsic part of our daily lives?
The journey began in the late 90s when technology firms started exploiting the newly available radio spectrum. But without a unified wireless standard, the movement was fragmented. Imagine a world where devices from different manufacturers couldn't connect with each other. Sounds like a tech nightmare.
Enter the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). In 1997, they approved a common standard called 802.11, which served as the foundation for wireless connectivity as we know it today. Two years later, major companies formed the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), now known as the Wi-Fi Alliance, to promote this new wireless standard.
But what's in a name? Well, quite a lot, as it turns out. A marketing firm coined the term 'Wi-Fi', chosen for its catchy sound and similarity to 'hi-fi’.
But Wi-Fi isn't just about a catchy name. It's about constant evolution to meet our ever-growing needs. From the original 802.11 standard that allowed a maximum data transmission rate of 2 Mbps, we've come a long way to the 802.11ax or Wi-Fi 6, introduced in 2019, boasting a maximum theoretical rate of 9.6 Gbps. That's a leap of almost 5,000 times!
The point is, business would look very different today without Wi-Fi. If your business could do with a Wi-Fi boost, let us help. Book a 15 minute call on my live calendar.
