WI-FI To The Future

Wireless internet technology is getting its biggest shakeup in years, but what does it mean for you? Will the newest routers finally be able to get rid of Wi-Fi dead-spots? Join us on a journey to understand the very latest in home wireless technologies.

- Kenny Yeo

Wi-Fi now

Wireless technology has come a long way.

If you were old enough to be using the internet during the very early days, you would probably remember the first time you logged on to a wireless network. The amazement and joy of being able to surf the web or connect to your local network without dragging along cumbersome Ethernet cables is indescribable.

Today, Wi-Fi is something that we take for granted. If you tried searching for wireless networks at home, chances are you’ll see at least 10 different Wi-Fi SSIDs being broadcasted. And as one of the most connected regions in the world, Asia has Wi-Fi in many public places including train stations, shopping malls, cafes and restaurants.

Wi-Fi has undergone many major changes since its inception in the late Nineties. The very first wireless standard - now known as 802.11 legacy - offered data transfer rates of just 1 to 2Mbps over a 2.4GHz frequency network. It was slow, but it was start. Wi-Fi only really took off near the turn of the millennium when the 802.11b wireless standard was introduced and data transfer rates were bumped up to 11Mbps.

One of the most significant leaps in wireless transmission speeds came around 2008 when the first routers to support the 802.11n wireless standard were released. For once, wireless transmission speeds could almost rival that of wired connections. The reason for this was the ability to broadcast on the lesser-used 5GHz band, which enabled higher data transfer rates. Beyond that, connecting to the 5GHz band would also allow devices to avoid using the 2.4GHz frequency band as interference was becoming a serious issue due to many other devices - such as wireless keyboards and mice, cordless phones, remote controls, and more - also using the 2.4GHz frequency band.