Enterprises are finding that expanding a wireless LAN (WLAN) can be difficult. The desired result of higher available bandwidth may not be realized. Wireless communications, like hub- based Ethernet, have a limiting factor – the shared bandwidth of the medium. Recognizing wireless networking limitations can help the enterprise plan their WLAN infrastructure.

So Little Bandwidth

In a WLAN, the total available bandwidth can be increased by pulling more cable and adding more switches. Even the backbone network can have additional capacity added in this same way – more cable and additional switches and routers. While each cable has a fixed bandwidth there is no limit on the number of cables that can be installed. Wireless networking doesn't expand so easily. You can't "pull" more spectrum in the facility.

Wireless communications depend on the availability of radio frequencies for transmitting information...