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Wireless wide area network
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
WWAN, which stands for Wireless Wide Area Network, is a form of wireless network.
A WWAN differs from a WLAN (wireless LAN) because it uses cellular network technologies such as WIMAX (though it's better applicated into WMAN Networks), UMTS, GPRS, CDMA2000, GSM, CDPD, Mobitex, HSDPA or 3G to transfer data. It can use also LMDS and Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet. These cellular technologies are offered regionally, nationwide, or even globally and are provided by a wireless service provider for a monthly usage fee. Various computers now have integrated WWAN capabilities (Such as HSDPA in Centrino). This means that the system has a cellular radio (GSM/CDMA) built in, which allows the user to send and receive data. There are two basic means that a mobile network may use to transfer data:
- Packet-switched Data Networks (GPRS/CDPD)
- Circuit-switched dial-up connections
Since radio communications systems do not provide a physically secure connection path, WWANs typically incorporate sophisticated encryption and authentication methods to make them more secure.
Examples of providers for WWAN include: Sprint, Verizon, or AT&T.
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