A history of Wi-Fi from 1979 – 2020

1. The History of Wi-Fi

2. 1971
ALOHAnet connects Hawaii with a UHF wireless packet network, a forerunner to Ethernet

3. 1985
U.S. FCC releases 2.4 GHz frequencies for unlicensed use, unlocking the spectrum for the
use of personal wireless devices

4. 1990
– Tim Berners-Lee invents the World Wide Web, bringing the Internet to the larger public
1991
– NCR Corporation and AT&T Corporation release WaveLAN, the precursor to the IEEE 802.11 standard
1996
– Cabletron releases the ST-500, the first 10BASE5 Ethernet transceiver featuring diagnostic LEDs, as well as
the LAN-MD, the first 10BASE5 test set to be field-deployable
– Extreme Networks is the first to market with GbE Ethernet switching
1997
– Wi-Fi is born when Vic Hayes establishes the IEEE 802.11 standards committee, the first international
standard for wireless networking
– Foundry Networks is the first to build a Layer 3 Ethernet switch (later acquired by Brocade)
– Alteon Networks and Extreme Networks are the first to successfully demonstrate automatic link and flow
control negotiation
1999
– IEEE 802.11b released to permit link speeds up to 11 Mbit/s.
– A pioneering group of companies forms the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA) and brands
this technology “Wi-Fi”
• The group of companies included 3Com, Aironet (acquired by Cisco), Harris Semiconductor (now Intersil),
Lucent (was Alcatel-Lucent, then acquired by Nokia), Nokia, and Symbol Technologies (now Zebra
Technologies, Zebra’s wireless LAN business acquired by Extreme Networks)
• WECA expanded to include Cabletron, Apple, and Dell in September of 1999
– IEEE 802.11a is ratified to define 802.11 wireless communications in the 5 GHz frequency band

5. 2000
– 802.llb products begin to appear on the market, including cordless telephones and baby monitors
2002
– WECA renames itself the Wi-Fi Alliance
2003
– 802.llg is ratified, operating at a 54 Mbps average throughput
2005
– Merriam-Webster adds 'Wi-Fi' to the dictionary Symbol Technologies, Inc. registers a patent for power
conservation in a wireless device, the foundation for the Adaptive RF capabilities used industry-wide
– Wi-Fi Alliance begins Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) security certification testing
2007
– 802.llREVma was renamed to the base standard IEEE 802.11-2007
– Aerohive Networks introduces "cooperative control" — the first Wi-Fi distributed architecture
– Aerohive launches first controller-less Wi-Fi architecture
– Aerohive pioneers cloud network management, redefining data storage accessible through Wi-Fi
2009
– Wi-Fi 4, or 802.lln, is released and adds multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) radios and antennas, operating
at a max net data rate from 54 Mbps to 600 Mbps
– Aerohive introduces HiveManager Online, a firstgeneration cloud wireless network management solution

6. 2010
– IEEE 802.llad is added as an amendment that allows for 802.11 networks to operate in the 60 GHz millimeter
wave spectrum
– McDonald's and Starbucks announce Wi-Fi connections are free in all stores
2012
– Wi-Fi Alliance begins Voice-Enterprise certification for enterprise-grade voice quality, mobility, power saving,
and security
2013
– Wi-Fi 5, or 802.llac-2013, builds on 802.11 to support 80 MHz channels in the 5 GHz band, three spatial
streams, and 256-QAM. The new standard yielded a data rate of up to 433.3 Mbit/s per spatial stream, 1300
Mbit/s total
2015
– Extreme Networks releases industry's first flow-based 802.llac wave 2 wireless solution

7. 2016
– Extreme Networks completes its acquisition of Zebra Technologies' wireless LAN business,
including AirDefense
2018
– Aerohive ships the industry's first 802.llax (Wi-Fi 6) enterprise access points Extreme Networks ships
plugable AP, Atom AP30
2019
– Extreme Networks completes acquisition of Aerohive
– Wi-Fi Alliance begins certification of Wi-Fi 6 (802.llax) devices
– Wi-Fi Alliance begins certification for WPA3 security
– Wi-Fi usage at Gillette Stadium, provided by Extreme Networks, breaks industry records during
New England Patriots home opener with a peak data transfer rate of 23.24 Gbps during unveiling of
Super Bowl banner
– Extreme Networks powers Wi-Fi at Zwarte Cross, the biggest paid music and sports festival in the
Netherlands and the largest outdoor motor event in the world, for the second consecutive year

8. 2020
– FCC announces the availability of the 6 GHz Band for Wi-Fi 6E
– Extreme Networks is the first to deliver Wi-Fi 6 solutions across NFL, MLS, and university stadiums
– In March 2020, a global coronavirus pandemic forced a mass shutdown of physical interactions, leading to
unprecedented, global reliance on Wi-Fi in all parts of life. Wi-Fi allowed employees in many industries to
work from home; has enabled school districts, hospitals, and retailers to adopt strategies for remote
teaching, telehealth, and ecommerce; and has provided a medium for friends and family to stay connected