WLAN Overview
Foreword

Wired LANs use wired cables or optical fibers as transmission media, which are
expensive and lack mobility. As further emphasis is placed on network portability
and mobility, traditional wired LANs cannot meet users' requirements. This leads
to the development of wireless LANs (WLAN).

WLAN is now the most cost-efficient and convenient network access mode.

This course describes the basic concepts, development history, and standards
organizations of WLAN. It also illustrates the changes and challenges facing
WLAN, as well as the development trend of WLAN technologies.
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Objectives
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
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
Describe the basic concepts and development history of WLAN.

Describe the functions of various WLAN standards organizations.

Compare WLAN and Wi-Fi.

Describe typical application scenarios of WLAN technologies.

Illustrate the challenges and development trend of WLAN.
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Contents
1. Enterprise WLAN Overview
2. Challenges Faced by Enterprise WLAN
3. Next-Generation Enterprise WLAN Solution
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What Is WLAN?

A Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) is constructed using wireless technologies.

Wireless technologies mentioned here include not only Wi-Fi, but also infrared, Bluetooth, and ZigBee. WLAN
technology allows you to easily access a wireless network and move around within the coverage of the
wireless network.

Wireless networks can fall into WPAN, WLAN, WMAN, and WWAN based on the application scope.
Transmission distance (Radius)
WPAN
50 m
WLAN
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi
• ZigBee
• WPAN-related
technologies are
often used on
WLANs.
• NFC
100 m
WMAN
• WiMax
WWAN
5 km
• GSM
• CDMA
• WCDMA
• TD-SCDMA
• LTE
• 5G
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15 km
WLAN vs. Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi
WLAN
Wi-Fi or 802.11
Connectivity
WLAN
Connectivity
WLAN is a combination of computer networks and wireless
Wi-Fi is a trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance. It is a WLAN
communication technologies. It is an extension of wired
technology based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.
networks. Wireless connections facilitate network construction
and allow users to move around without interrupting
communication.
The difference between Wi-Fi and WLAN is that IEEE 802.11 is a WLAN standard
while Wi-Fi is an implementation of IEEE 802.11 standard.
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Origin and Development of Wireless Networks (1)
WECA, the predecessor of
Wi-Fi Alliance, was founded.
The first version of the 802.11 standard,
IEEE 802.11-1997, was released.
Australia's John O'Sullivan
proposed the concept of Wi-Fi.
The 802.11 working group was established.
NCR released 915 MHz WaveLAN.
FCC unveiled the ISM
frequency band, boosting
WLAN development.
Robert Melancton Metcalf
proposed Ethernet and
introduced CSMA/CD.
AT&T released 2.4 GHz WaveLAN.
IEEE 802.11 selected the foundation for the
MAC protocol.
NCR's Vic Hayes designed WaveLAN, which is an ad-hoc network
and considered as the prototype of Wi-Fi.
Metcalf proposed the DIX standard, followed by the
establishment of the IEEE 802 standards project.
Norman Abramson, University of Hawaii, proposed ALOHAnet.
1971
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1973
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1980
1985
1988
1990
1993
1996
1997
1999
Origin and Development of Wireless Networks (2)
Wi-Fi CERTIFIED 6 ushered in
a new Wi-Fi era.
Wi-Fi Alliance proposes the era of WiFi 4, Wi-Fi 5, and Wi-Fi 6.
WPA3 authentication was launched.
IEEE 802.11ac was released,
breaking the gigabit barrier.
IEEE 802.11n was released.
IEEE 802.11g was released.
The Wi-Fi Alliance launched WPA authentication.
IEEE 802.11i was released. The Wi-Fi Alliance launched
WPA2 authentication and added the QoS function.
WECA renamed itself the Wi-Fi Alliance and introduced the term
"Wi-Fi". The first Wi-Fi CERTIFIED product was released.
IEEE 802.11a and 802.11b standards were released.
1999–2000
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2000
2003
2004
2009
2013
2018
2019
Technology and Application Development Ushers in the
Wi-Fi 6 Era
802.11ax released, ushering in
the next-generation Wi-Fi era
2014
Technology
Wi-Fi standards upgraded
every 4 to 5 years
2011
2015
802.11n
2016
2017
802.11ac Wave 1
Wi-Fi 4
2018
2019
2020
802.11ac Wave 2
2021
802.11ax
Wi-Fi 5
Wi-Fi 6
4K
Application
Social
Wireless
networking working
Bandwidth per user:
2 to 4 Mbps
Latency < 50 ms
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Video
conferencing
E-classroom
HD video
Video
surveillance
Bandwidth per user: 4 to 12 Mbps
Latency < 30 ms
4K video
conferencing
3D
diagnosis
Interactive
VR/AR
Bandwidth per user > 50 Mbps
Latency < 10 ms
IEEE 802.11 Standards and Wi-Fi Generations
Wi-Fi Generation
802.11 Standard
Released In
Working Band
Theoretical Rate
-
802.11
1997
2.4 GHz
2 Mbps
-
802.11b
1999
2.4 GHZ
11 Mbps
802.11a
1999
5 GHz
54 Mbps
802.11g
2003
2.4 GHz
54 Mbps
802.11n
2009
2.4 GHz or 5 GHz
600 Mbps
802.11ac Wave 1
2013
5 GHz
3.47 Gbps
802.11ac Wave 2
2015
5 GHz
6.9 Gbps
802.11ax
2018/19
2.4 GHz or 5 GHz
9.6 Gbps
Wi-Fi 4
Wi-Fi 5
Wi-Fi 6
•
The original version of IEEE 802.11 was released in 1997 and defined the MAC and PHY layers of WLAN
traffic.
•
Since then, more and more 802.11-based supplementary standards have been defined. The most well-known
standards that affect Wi-Fi evolution include 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac, and 802.11ax.
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Development Trend of Wi-Fi in Enterprise Working
Scenarios
Early 1990s
Late 1990s
Now
Mobile 1.0
Mobile 2.0
Mobile 3.0
4K
VR/AR
BYOD
Wireless working
Basic mobile working
Fixed-location working
Desktop PC
• Data service
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Laptop:
• Voice and data services
• 802.11b/a/g
Wireless networks as a
supplement to wired networks
Mobile phone, tablet, and Ultrabook:
• Video, voice, and data services
• A large number of real-time services
• 802.11n -> 802.11ac
Wired and wireless convergence
...
All-wireless working
Diversified terminals:
• Refined online services
• 802.11ax/ad...
• VR/4K video
All-wireless working that is
wireless-centric
Contents
1. Enterprise WLAN Overview
2. Challenges Faced by Enterprise WLAN
3. Next-Generation Enterprise WLAN Solution
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Challenge 1: Diversified Wi-Fi Deployment Scenarios
Differentiated Indoor
Coverage Scenarios
• Scenarios such as offices,
shopping malls, and
supermarkets vary
greatly, and one single
solution cannot adapt to
such scenarios.
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High-density Stadium
Coverage
• Up to 80,000 users
• 20,000 concurrent
users
• Difficult planning
and installation
Wi-Fi & IoT Convergence
Outdoor Coverage
• Independent deployment of
IoT networks increases costs.
• High reliability and stability
are required in hightemperature and rainy
outdoor environments.
• Wi-Fi and IoT networks are
managed separately,
complicating maintenance.
Backhaul and Coverage
In Rail Transportation
• 120 km/h fast handover
in rail transportation
• High-density coverage
in carriages
Challenge 2: Wi-Fi Technology Bottlenecks Degrade User
Experience
•
Good signal quality does not mean that all STAs
can access the WLAN.
•
Good experience does not mean consistent experience.
WLAN
Campus 1
Some STAs fail to access the WLAN because the
number of STAs connected to the WLAN is too large.
•
Access success does not necessarily mean good
user experience.
Wait...
Rich media content is developing
rapidly, and severe wireless
network interference exists,
increasing service delay.
Campus 2
Branch 1
Users cannot obtain consistent service quality assurance.
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Challenge 3: The Security of Wi-Fi Services Is Questioned
The wireless channel becomes an important way for hackers
and illegals to attack and destroy networks in the mobile era.
Losses and damages caused by attacks on IoT, production,
and other services will be catastrophic.
Working AP
IoT
Bogus STA
Flood
attack
AP
Brute force
PSK cracking
Bogus AP
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Production Surveillance
network
network
AP
AP
STA attack
Challenge 4: Planning, Deployment, and Maintenance
Become Complex Due to the Increase of Wi-Fi Nodes
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Difficult to evaluate signal strength and radio interference

Wired connection?

Sharp increase in Wi-Fi devices

Interference shielding?


More parameters

Channel allocation?
Bandwidth
allocation?

Independent wired and wireless networks

...
...
Device monitoring failing to guide
service optimization

Signal coverage

Enable 5G-prior?

Radio interference

Adjust the bandwidth policy?

User bandwidth

Adjust the threshold?

Application throughput

Adjust the application policy?
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SSID, security, authentication, traffic, application...
Device deployment?
User- and service-oriented KPI monitoring provides
guidance for network optimization.
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Complex Wi-Fi deployment


3
2
Doubled planning difficulty
?
4
Difficult to locate Wi-Fi faults
Imagine your home's wireless network goes down...

STA settings

Radio interference

Incorrect policy

Authentication failure

...
Contents
1. Enterprise WLAN Overview
2. Challenges Faced by Enterprise WLAN
3. Next-Generation Enterprise WLAN Solution
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Next-Generation Enterprise WLAN Solution
Support for 802.11ax
Wireless air interface technology
• Wireless coverage: radio calibration.
• Anti-interference: CCA, RTS-CTS,
advanced antenna technologies.
• User QoS: air interface priority
scheduling, airtime scheduling.
• Mobile experience: fast roaming,
smart roaming.
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Security
technology
• Air interface
attack defense
• Data encryption
• Diversified
wireless
authentication
modes
Network planning,
Wi-Fi & IoT convergence
deployment, and maintenance
• All-scenario WLAN
• IoT AP integrated with
planning solution
Bluetooth technology
• Multiple tools for network
planning and maintenance
• IoT AP integrated with
RFID technology
• IoT AP integrated with
ZigBee technology
Features of Huawei WLAN Solution
All-scenario
support
High
bandwidth
High
security
Easy
deployment
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• Scenario-specific solutions for complex and diversified application scenarios
• Complete WLAN deployment and management schemes for campus and branch networks
• 802.11ac Wave 2 support: dual-5G radio coverage; maximum wireless access bandwidth of 6.9 Gbps
• Huawei takes the lead in formulating the next-generation 802.11ax standard (Wi-Fi 6), with 9.6
Gbps rate per 5 GHz radio.
• Wireless roaming and multiple wireless QoS protocols such as WMM to ensure service quality
• Mainstream authentication/encryption modes, such as WPA, WPA2, WPA3, and WAPI
• Wireless intrusion detection
• Portal and 802.1X authentication, protecting intranet security
• APs support plug-and-play, automatic upgrade, automatic channel selection, dynamic rate
and power adjustment, and load balancing.
• IoT APs and APs with built-in high-density antennas simplify installation and enable fast
deployment.
• APs can smoothly switch between the cloud and local management modes.
WLAN Networking Solution for Large-Scale Campus
Networks
Internet
WAN
HQ
Branch
Egress zone
Data center
Core layer
AC
NMS O&M zone
AC
Aggr layer
Access layer
iStack/CSS link
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AC
Quiz
1.
(Multiple-Answer Question)Based on the application scope, wireless networks can fall into:
A.
WPAN
B.
WLAN
C.
WMAN
D. WWAN
2.
(Multiple-Answer Question)Which of the following are characteristics of Huawei WLAN solution?
A.
All-scenario support
B.
High bandwidth
C.
High security
D. Easy deployment
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Summary

Driven by rapid development of standards and accompanied by an explosive growth of
diversified scenarios, enterprise WLANs have evolved from wired networks to all-wireless
office networks. Requirements for services carried on such networks go beyond just Internet
access.
Enterprise
WLANs
have
become
the
infrastructure
that
supports
digital
transformation across various industries while improving production and work efficiency.
The challenges faced by enterprise WLANs are even more daunting.

After learning about the challenges facing WLANs and related solutions, you can work out
effective measures to plan, design, and deploy WLANs that meet your needs.
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Thank you.
把数字世界带入每个人、每个家庭、
每个组织，构建万物互联的智能世界。
Bring digital to every person, home, and
organization for a fully connected,
intelligent world.
Copyright© 2021 Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
All Rights Reserved.
The information in this document may contain predictive
statements including, without limitation, statements regarding
the future financial and operating results, future product
portfolio, new technology, etc. There are a number of factors
that
could cause actual results and developments to differ materially
from those expressed or implied in the predictive statements.
Therefore, such information is provided for reference purpose
only and constitutes neither an offer nor an acceptance. Huawei
may change the information at any time without notice.