The History of WiFi: When WiFi was invented and what’s changed

The History of WiFi: From Humble Beginnings to a Connected Future

WiFi is one of those things we rarely think about—until it’s buffering the important conference call you just started. But this everyday necessity has a history that starts back in the 70s. From its early days to its exciting future, WiFi has shaped the way we live, work, and learn. In this blog post we will go through the history of WiFi and what to expect from WiFi in the future.

When was WiFi invented?

WiFi traces back to the 1970s with ALOHAnet, a wireless network created in Hawaii to connect the Hawaiian Islands. While it is not the same technology we use today, it paved the way for modern wireless technology. Fast forward to 1997, when the IEEE 802.11 standard officially created what we now know as WiFi. By the late ’90s, the WiFi Alliance was formed, and “WiFi” became a household name. The word WiFi originates from the wireless industry trying to create a user friendly name. They went with something that sounded like “Hi-Fi” which was an abbreviation of high fidelity, meaning a high-quality wireless connection. In the beginning there was a modest 2 Mbps connection—a much slower connection than the lightning speeds we enjoy with the WiFi 6 standard we use today.

Fiber Optics: Going Beyond Cable and DSL

So you might be asking “What is the difference between DSL, Cable, and Fiber?”. Well, the evolution of WiFi connectivity starts with DSL. DSL stands for Digital Subscriber Line. It is traced back to the late 1980s by Bell Communications Research, Inc. DSL uses telephone lines (like the landline) to transmit its data and offer you internet. DSL then became widely used and available when John Cioffi invented the first DSL modem in 1991. A few years went by and then in 1995, the cable modem was introduced, but did not become popular until the early 2000s. As the name suggests, cable internet uses coaxial cables, to transmit its data using electrical signals and offer us internet connectivity.

Then the popularity of Fiber came, offering faster internet speeds than ever before. And while fiber optic technology traces all the way back to the 1950s, by a man named Narinder Singh Kapany (known as the father of fiber optics), fiber internet really hasn’t become readily accessible to the general public until the 2010s. Fiber offers faster internet speeds than ever before. These ultra-thin strands of glass, which are fiber-optic cables, carry data as beams of light, ensuring speed, reliability, and efficiency. So while you are streaming your favorite show on the tv, emailing clients, and casually viewing Instagram, fiber cabling is what is actually doing the heavy lifting to provide you with lightning speed internet.

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What’s Next for WiFi?

WiFi isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Here’s what’s on the horizon:

WiFi 7: Think faster, smarter, and ready to tackle emerging technologies like AR, VR, and IoT. WiFi 7 utilizes Multi-Link Operation (MLO). This is the technology that enables your various devices to connect as per two or more of available WiFi frequencies. This is where the frequencies can switch between each other— the end result: faster connection than ever before. The only downside is both your router and device must be compatible with WiFi 7 to use MLO. So while WiFi 7 technology is available for use, you may want to wait to utilize it until it is accessible on every device.

WiFi 8: Basically just an upgrade to WiFi 7, WiFi 8 is still in the works. The key difference is it will offer UHR, Ultra-High Reliability as its main feature. WiFi 8 technology is predicted to launch sometime in early 2028.

Smarter Homes: With more devices connecting to WiFi, expect your smart home to get even smarter.

Sustainability: Energy-efficient WiFi solutions are becoming a priority, aligning with global environmental goals.

In Conclusion 

WiFi has come a long way, transforming from a niche technology to an indispensable part of modern life. With fiber cabling and other communication systems playing critical roles, the future looks more connected than ever. Whether it’s your morning Instagram scroll or a critical business conference, WiFi keeps us linked—and that’s something worth appreciating.