How does the Wireless Broadband service compare with WiFi (Wireless LAN, 802.11)?
WiFi is an extremely useful technology for providing localised wireless connectivity for a group of related users. In the scenario of an office or a home environment it is ideal. However, it does not work well with wide area, public communications access. This is firstly due to its range of up to a maximum of 100 metres, limiting it generally to one premise such as a home, office or cafe. Authorising users for access is another impediment. Due to the haphazard way WiFi public access points are being deployed, allowing for a user to identify them and pay for the service is proving to be a severe challenge for service providers and results in great inconvenience for the user. In contrast, Wireless Broadband has much greater range and thus blankets entire metropolitan areas so the customer can expect coverage where they are rather than have to seek out hotspot locations. Billing is centralised and standardised as the network is being run and coordinated by one company for the entire count
