ICS 414 Mobile Networks

ISE 412/ ISS 419 Mobile Computing and

Wireless Communication
Lecturer : Eng. W.T. Gwavava

Office : W103

Email ID : wgwavava@hit.ac.zw
Mobile Computing
Wireless Networks
(Communications)
• Wireless networking is the new face of networking. Wireless
networking have been around for many years. Cell phones are
also a type of wireless communication and are popular today for
people talking to each other worldwide.
•
Wireless networking are not only less expensive than more
traditional wired networking but also much easier to install. An
important goal of this site is to provide you adequate
knowledge for installing a wireless network and get certified in
wireless networks as well as.
Two 802.11 access modes can be used in
a WLAN:
• Ad hoc mode is based on the Independent Basic Service Set
(IBSS). In IBSS, clients can set up connections directly to other
clients without an intermediate AP. This allows you to set up
peer-to-peer network connections and is sometimes used in a
SOHO. The main problem with ad hoc mode is that it is difficult
to secure since each device you need to connect to will require
authentication. This problem, in turn, creates scalability issues.
• Infrastructure mode was designed to deal with security and
scalability issues. In infrastructure mode, wireless clients can
communicate with each other, albeit via an AP
Types of Wireless Networks
• WLANS: Wireless Local Area Networks
WLANS allow users in a local area, such as a university campus or
library, to form a network or gain access to the internet. A temporary
network can be formed by a small number of users without the need
of an access point; given that they do not need access to network
resources.

• WPANS: Wireless Personal Area Networks

The two current technologies for wireless personal area networks are
Infra Red (IR) and Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15). These will allow the
connectivity of personal devices within an area of about 30 feet.
However, IR requires a direct line of site and the range is less.
Types of Wireless Networks
• WMANS: Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks
This technology allows the connection of multiple networks in a
metropolitan area such as different buildings in a city, which can
be an alternative or backup to laying copper or fiber cabling.
• WWANS: Wireless Wide Area Networks
These types of networks can be maintained over large areas, such
as cities or countries, via multiple satellite systems or antenna
sites looked after by an ISP. These types of systems are referred to
as 2G (2nd Generation) systems.
 Comparison of Wireless Network Types
Type Coverage Performance Standards Applications
Wireless PAN Within reach of a Moderate Wireless PAN Within reach Cable replacement for
person of a person Moderate peripherals
Bluetooth, IEEE 802.15, and
IrDa Cable replacement for
peripherals

Wireless LAN Within a building or High IEEE 802.11, Wi-Fi, and Mobile extension of wired
campus HiperLAN networks

Wireless MAN Within a city High Proprietary, IEEE 802.16, Fixed wireless between homes
and WIMAX and businesses and the Internet

Wireless WAN Worldwide Low CDPD and Cellular 2G, Mobile access to the Internet
2.5G, and 3G from outdoor areas
Wireless networks in comparison to fixed
networks
• Higher loss-rates due to interference
• emissions of, e.g., engines, lightning

• Restrictive regulations of frequencies

• frequencies have to be coordinated, useful frequencies are almost all occupied

• Lower transmission rates

• local some Mbit/s, regional sometimes only, e.g., 53kbit/s with GSM/GPRS or about 150 kbit/s using EDGE – some Mbit/s with LTE
(shared!) – compare country side vs. downtown

• Higher delays, higher jitter

• connection setup time with GSM in the second range, several hundred milliseconds for other wireless systems – in ms range with LTE

• Lower security, simpler active attacking

• radio interface accessible for everyone, base station can be simulated, thus attracting calls from mobile phones

• Always shared medium

• secure access mechanisms important
FROM 1G TO 5G - EVOLUTION OF
COMMUNICATION

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUovkXWe15s
 Internet Speed
Maximum Download
Generation Icon Technology Typical Download Speed
Speed

G GPRS 0.0125 MB <0.0125 MB

2G
E EDGE 0.0375 MB 0.0125 MB

3G 3G (Basic) 0.0375 MB 0.0125 MB

H HSPA 0.9 MB 0.1875 MB

3G
H+ HSPA+ 2.625 MB 4Mbit/s

H+ DC-HSPA+ 42Mbit/s 8Mbit/s

4G 4G LTE Category 4 150Mbit/s 15Mbit/s

4G+ LTE-Advanced Cat6 300Mbit/s 30Mbit/s

4G+ LTE-Advanced Cat9 450Mbit/s 45Mbit/s

4G+
4G+ LTE-Advanced Cat12 600Mbit/s 60Mbit/s

4G+ LTE-Advanced Cat16 979Mbit/s 90Mbit/s

5G 5G 5G (1-10Gbit/s) 150-200Mbit/s
Areas of research in mobile and wireless
communication
• Wireless Communication
• transmission quality (bandwidth, error rate, delay)
• modulation, coding, interference
• medium access, regulations
• ...
• Mobility
• location dependent services
• location transparency
• quality of service support (delay, jitter, security)
• ...
• Portability
• power consumption
• limited computing power, sizes of display, ...
• usability
• ...
… and as always: security (privacy, data integrity, tracking, encryption, law enforcement…)!
Simple reference model used here

Application Application

Transport Transport

Network Network Network Network

Data Link Data Link Data Link Data Link

Physical Physical Physical Physical

Radio Medium
Influence of mobile communication to the
layer model
service location
Application layer
new/adaptive applications
multimedia
congestion/flow control
Transport layer
quality of service
addressing, routing
Network layer
device location
hand-over
authentication
Data link layer
media access/control
multiplexing
encryption
modulation
Physical layer
interference
attenuation
frequency