An umbrella term for high-speed wireless data transmission. The "high" in high-speed is always a changing number. In the past, wireless broadband started at 250 Kbps for cellular data, and land-based broadband started at 1.5 Mbps (T1 rates). Subsequently, Wi-Fi and cellular have long passed the T1 benchmark. Nevertheless, wireless systems are generally slower than land-based, wireline networks. See
T1.
Wireless Local and Wireless Wide
There are two categories. Wireless local area networks (WLANs) are Wi-Fi hotspots that span a few hundred feet (see
802.11 and
hotspot). In contrast, 4G/5G wireless wide area networks (WWANs) from the cellular carriers may be slower but provide nationwide service. See
WISP,
802.16,
cellular generations and
broadband.