WHY WIRELESS?

As an integrator of network infrastructure on both the LAN and the WAN, FastNetworks is now delivering more LAN solutions based upon the use of wireless LAN networking.

While wireless LAN networking is still not a one-stop solution for LAN networking, it is now starting to penetrate the legacy network cabling market for LAN connectivity. The typical mix at the moment is a wireless device connecting to a copper or fibre optic backbone. The use of a wired backbone is important, in order to scale the use of wireless access points, with connection to a central backbone core switch or even router. The well-known reasons for increased deployment of wireless networking devices i.e. hard to reach or mobile laptop Users are still in place. There are a number of new elements that are also pushing the acceptance of wireless as follows:

  • The increase in speed to 11 MB, which is standards based.
  • Wireless access points can now load balance between access units allowing for increased throughput.
  • Do users need 100MB full duplex to the desktop, when in most cases 10MB full duplex is more than adequate.
  • The developing IEEE 802.11 standards for an increase in bandwidth above 11MB.
  • Laptop use allows for greater roaming, particularly within Education, i.e. the ability of the teacher to roam from class to class.
  • In many organisations it is increasingly more difficult to install new cabling due to Health & Safety requirements. Once the wireless access points are installed the need for additional cabling is removed.

Wireless networking will not satisfy all networking requirements, it does however provide a number of solutions, particularly for roaming Users. Wireless will become more readily acceptable as it approaches the throughput of legacy cabling systems. There are techniques that must be used when deploying wireless devices in order to obtain maximum benefit from the wireless installation, i.e. they are not simple plug and play devices. All wireless devices are also not the same, compliance to IEEE 802.11 is not a guarantee of bandwidth.

Wireless networking is utilised by Liverpool Women's Hospital - view the Case Study Here

FastNetworks 2001