Difference Between Wireless & Mobile Broadband

Smart phones may be wireless devices but not all are WiFi-capable.

Wireless Internet (WiFi) is used to share a broadband connection like DSL in a small area while mobile broadband connects devices directly to the Internet using the mobile 3G network over a larger geographical area. Both are used to access the Internet without a physical network connection.

LAN vs WAN

Wireless Local Area Networking (LAN) refers to an over-the-air networking protocol that connects compatible devices together in a local area using the 802.11 networking standard that defines WiFi. Mobile broadband refers to the 3G wide-area network (WAN), which is used by mobile phones and other mobile broadband-enabled devices to transmit and receive data over large geographical distances.

Speeds

WiFi speeds vary from a top speed of 11 Megabits per second (Mbps) on older 802.11b networks while newer 802.11n networks can reach up to 150 Mbps. In comparison, 3G network averages about 1 Mbps, depending on the carrier. For both WiFi and mobile broadband connections, strength of signal affects the data transfer speed.

Coverage

WiFi connections are very limited, defined by the range of the wireless gateway used to project the signal. In comparison, mobile broadband covers a larger geographic area, with limitations defined by the mobile company's coverage area.

References

• Broadband Expert