Wireless networking

Summary form only given, as follows. From cellular networks to personal communications and from satellite systems to military and commercial multihop networks, the technology of mobile wireless networking is creating yet another revolution in the Information Age. In this article the distinguishing features of wireless networks are reviewed and the main challenges and roadblocks in their design are identified. In addition it is shown how some prevailing viewpoints (e.g. the view of some in the Internet community that wireless is just another transmission technology or the view of some communication theorists that the only issue is to overcome the wireless channel impairments between two points) represent misconceptions of the unique environment of wireless networking. Finally some specific examples of design problems in wireless networks are reviewed