Wireless Networking Technology From Principles to Successful Implementation by Steve Rackley

Development of Wireless Networking
Although the origins of radio frequency based wireless networking can be
traced back to the University of Hawaii’s ALOHANET research project
in the 1970s, the key events that led to wireless networking becoming
one of the fastest growing technologies of the early 21st century have
been the ratification of the IEEE 802.11 standard in 1997, and the
subsequent development of interoperability certification by the Wi-Fi
Alliance (formerly WECA). From the 1970s through the early 1990s, the growing demand for
wireless connectivity could only be met by a narrow range of expensive
hardware, based on proprietary technologies, which offered no interoperability of equipment from different manufacturers, no security
mechanisms and poor performance compared to the then standard 10 Mbps wired Ethernet.
The 802.11 standard stands as a major milestone in the development of
wireless networking, and the starting point for a strong and recognisable
brand — Wi-Fi. This provides a focus for the work of equipment
developers and service providers and is as much a contributor to the
growth of wireless networking as the power of the underlying
technologies.

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