What is the difference between wireless routers and wireless LAN and wireless WAN?

Wireless LAN

Wireless WAN

Coverage

Office Buildings or Campus with

some public hotspots

Available wherever there is cellular

network coverage; nationwide and

global

Throughput

Speeds

1--5 Mbps (However the

underlying internet connection

may yield a slower speed)

30--50 kbps (GPRS)

40--70 kbps (CDMA2000 1X)

Security

Security flaws

Secure encryption and

authentication

Airtime Charges

Airtime charges exist for most

Hotspot access. No airtime

charges for office or home users

(although ISP monthly service

fee still exists).

Monthly subscription from wireless

network provider

Uses

• Accessing a shared network

within a building or across a

campus

• Remote access to a corporate

network for e-mail and

applications

• Web and internet access.

Voice

No

Yes

Wired analogy

Ethernet Network

Remote modem access