What are the various forms of wireless communications?

Short answer: The common forms of wireless communication are Bluetooth for short-range transfers between devices, Wi-Fi for medium-range internet access in homes and offices, satellite for coverage over vast areas through orbiting relays, broadcast radio, and 4G/5G cellular networks for fast mobile data.

The arrival of wireless communication had taken over the world by a storm.

The shift from being restricted by long telephone cables or internet wires provided not just individuals but organizations in every sector a much-needed boost.

The freedom to be able to make calls on the go, respond to critical emails and share files and data by not being tied to a machine, gave individuals the opportunity to multi-task and explore various aspects of work that hadn’t been touched on before. Along with devices like broadcast radio and satellite have built communication in ways that make people aware of the know how’s of the world.

What are the main forms of wireless communication?

Today, we focus on the vast array of wireless network communication that we have access to.

• Bluetooth – With a short distance transmission, bluetooth was one of the first few wireless communication systems that helped transfer data from one device to the other, without incurring additional charges.
• Wifi – A mode of wireless communication on which the world is dependent now. With a medium range of transmission, wifi can connect multiple devices like mobile phones, laptops or PCs to other various smart devices to the internet. Sending and receiving data through air, wifi is a necessity at homes and offices.  
• Satellites – A form of microwave communication, works at transmitting globally. Any information that is transferred is first sent to the satellites, which work as a relay station for microwave signals. Covering over vast areas, distance isn’t an issue here.
• Broadcast radio – One of the first and widely used till date, broadcast radio is one of the most famous forms of wireless communication. Radio transmitters sending out data to receiving antennas. Signals are relatively narrow and waves can be sent via various frequencies.
• 4G/5G – The mainstream of cellular wireless communication today. As the latest iterations of cellular technology, 4G and 5G have been engineered to provide responsive wireless connectivity along with speed. Making data transmission over wireless transmission sharp due to the higher availability of bandwidth which is provided via advanced antenna technology.

Wireless communication has undoubtedly changed the face of technology and communication. With new advancements happening in the field day in and day out, there is always something more coming. Satellite networks in low Earth orbit are another development to watch.

Related: 5G wireless SD-WAN for business sites, VSAT to 4G/LTE migration for ATMs in India and Nexapp enterprise Wi-Fi.

Frequently asked questions

What are the main types of wireless communication?

The main types are Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, satellite, broadcast radio and cellular networks such as 4G and 5G. They differ mainly in range, bandwidth and use.

What is the difference between Wi-Fi and 4G/5G?

Wi-Fi is a medium-range technology that connects phones, laptops and other devices to the internet within a home or office. 4G and 5G are cellular technologies that provide wide-area mobile connectivity with high bandwidth.

How does satellite communication work?

Data is sent up to a satellite, which acts as a relay station for microwave signals and sends it back down to another point, so it can cover very large areas regardless of distance.

Which wireless technology do businesses use for branch and ATM connectivity?

4G and 5G cellular links are widely used. Nexapp moved 2,500 ATM sites from VSAT to dual-LTE with day-1 zero-touch provisioning, with more than double the bandwidth and higher uptime.

Found this interesting? See how Nexapp uses 4G and 5G in 5G wireless SD-WAN.