Classification of Wireless Networks

Infrastructured Networks

- Fixed base station or AP needed
- A mobile nodes can only communicate via a base station or AP among the other
mobile nodes or wired nodes
- Also called “Last Hop Network”
- Ex : Cellular Phone, Wireless LAN, etc.

Infrastructureless Networks

- No fixed base station or AP needed
- A mobile devices communicate among the others using wireless radio, without the aid of a fixed networking infrastructure.
- Commonly called “Ad Hoc Network”
- Ex : Wireless PAN, Bluetooth, HomeRF, etc.