Wifi and Mobiles.

Wifi is a wireless communication technology designed to allow computing devices to send data to and receive data from the Internet. Similar objectives to mobile phone technology. The main difference is that wifi is designed to work in a static environment, whereas mobile communications assume some form of mobility. However in a Mesh network, or a corporate network some limited movement is possible - usually walking around the house or site. Access to a WiFi network relies on the user knowing the network name (SSID) and the password. In a corporate environment the WiFi may be linked to the corporate username / password.

WiFi uses one of two frequency bands 2.4GHz and 5GHz, which are similar in nature to the frequencies used on Mobile Phone Technology. So whilst WiFi uses different protocols than mobile communications the waves have similar properties.

How does WiFi impact on the mobile phone :

• On most smartphones the user has the option to switch on WiFi as the mechanism to send and receive data. When WiFi is switched on the phone will connect to a known WiFi access point in preference to the mobile network. The reasoning is based on the assumption that WiFi & broadband will be faster than mobile phone technology. The speed of the WiFi data connection is dictated by the broadband speed which is likely to be similar to the 5G speed on the phone.
• WiFi can be used by the mobile as a direct swap for the mobile data channel. WiFi does not directly support phone calls, or text messages. However with the introduction of VO-WiFi and the use of WhatsApp these are covered over WiFi.
• On a train, or bus or car, there can be a WiFi access point available to travellers. This obviously, cannot use fibre or copper wire as the backhaul so this is achieved via mobile connection. A special router will transfer the data from the WiFi to a mobile connection using a SIM.
• In a home environment the WiFi backhaul is either copper wire or fibre. For areas without fibre the home broadband can be much slower than mobile speed. So the mobile network can be used to provide the home broadband using a mobile router. Additionally some standard routers have a mobile capability to provide backup if the broadband becomes too slow.
• Phone tethering is operation where the mobile phone is used as a mobile hotspot. The phone acts as a mobile router, When this is turned on, other computing devices, laptops, tablets etc, can connect to the WiFi provided by the phone and use this in the same way as a fixed router. The phone transferes the data from WiFi signals to mobile phone signals.