Maarg Manthan · Topic 14.24

Networking: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Hotspot

Science & Technology › IT, Telecommunications and Computers · Topic 14.24

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are wireless networking technologies that work in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band, and Wi-Fi also uses 5 GHz and 6 GHz. Bluetooth is a short range technology, covering about ten metres for most devices, used to link phones with headsets, speakers, watches and cars; it was developed in the 1990s and is managed by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group formed in 1998. Wi-Fi is based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards and connects devices to a local network and the internet through an access point. A Wi-Fi hotspot is a place or device that shares an internet connection wirelessly. In India, the Public Wi-Fi Network or PM-WANI framework, announced in December 2020, allows small shops to offer public Wi-Fi.

5 min read · UPSC Prelims · Science & Technology · IT, Telecommunications and Computers

At a Glance

Bluetooth range About 10 metres
Wi-Fi standard IEEE 802.11
Bands 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz
Indian scheme PM-WANI, December 2020
Light-based link Li-Fi
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Science & Technology: IT, Telecommunications and Computers

Where Does It Fit?

This topic follows the account of global internet governance. It moves from global rules to the local wireless links that connect devices, and prepares for the national programmes on e-governance and broadband. Previous topic: Global Internet Governance. Next topic: National e-Governance Plan.

How Do Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Differ?

Feature	Bluetooth and Wi-Fi
Purpose	Bluetooth links nearby personal devices. Wi-Fi connects devices to a local area network and the internet
Range	Bluetooth: about 10 metres, up to 100 metres for some classes. Wi-Fi: tens of metres indoors
Speed	Bluetooth: a few megabits per second. Wi-Fi: hundreds of megabits to several gigabits
Power	Bluetooth uses little power, and Bluetooth Low Energy is made for sensors and wearables. Wi-Fi uses more
Topology	Bluetooth forms small networks called piconets. Wi-Fi uses an access point with many devices
Standard	Bluetooth is managed by the Bluetooth SIG. Wi-Fi follows IEEE 802.11 and the Wi-Fi Alliance certifies products
Name origin	Bluetooth is named after Harald Bluetooth, a Danish king who united tribes

What Are Hotspots, Wi-Fi Generations and PM-WANI?

Wi-Fi hotspot: a point where devices get internet over Wi-Fi, such as a cafe, an airport, or a smartphone sharing its mobile data
Tethering: sharing a phone’s mobile data with other devices through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or a cable
Wi-Fi generations: Wi-Fi 4 is 802.11n, Wi-Fi 5 is 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 is 802.11ax and Wi-Fi 6E extends it to the 6 GHz band; Wi-Fi 7 is 802.11be
PM-WANI: Prime Minister’s Wi-Fi Access Network Interface, approved by the Union Cabinet in December 2020 to spread public Wi-Fi through small shops without licence fees or registration
PM-WANI players: public data office, public data office aggregator and app provider, with a central registry kept by C-DOT
Delicensing: the 5 GHz band and part of the 6 GHz band were delicensed in India for Wi-Fi, in 2018 and 2025 respectively. Check the current bands
Security: WPA3 is the latest security standard, and public hotspots can be risky for sensitive transactions
Li-Fi: a technology that sends data using visible light from LED bulbs, with high speed over short range, and it cannot pass through walls

What Else Should You Remember?

Wireless LAN: a local area network using radio, also called WLAN
SSID: the name of a Wi-Fi network
Router and access point: a router directs traffic between networks while an access point gives wireless access
Bluetooth versions: newer versions improve speed, range and power use, such as Bluetooth 5
Pairing: the process of making a trusted link between two Bluetooth devices
Bluetooth beacons: small transmitters used for indoor positioning and shop offers
Zigbee: a low power wireless standard used in smart homes, linked to Internet of Things
Wi-Fi Direct: lets two devices connect without an access point
Wi-Fi calling: voice calls routed over Wi-Fi when mobile signal is weak
Spectrum: unlicensed bands are open to everyone, which means interference can occur
BharatNet: the village fibre network can feed Wi-Fi hotspots in gram panchayats, as in NOFN and Spectrum
Public Wi-Fi in cities: railways stations and smart cities offer free hotspots
Digital India link: public hotspots support access under Digital India Initiative and E-Governance Programmes
Privacy risk: fake hotspots can capture data, so VPN use helps, as in Computer Security Tools: Firewalls, Hackers, VPN
Mesh Wi-Fi: several access points work together to cover large homes
NFC versus Bluetooth: NFC works over a few centimetres, Bluetooth over metres, as in Smartphone Technology
Bluetooth attacks: bluejacking sends unwanted messages and bluesnarfing steals data, so devices should not be left discoverable

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Standards: IEEE 802.11 for Wi-Fi
Comparison: range, speed, power
Scheme: PM-WANI
Current affairs link: 6 GHz delicensing and Wi-Fi 7
Common errors: saying Wi-Fi is 802.16 or that Bluetooth has longer range than Wi-Fi

As an analytical point, public Wi-Fi can cheaply widen access, especially where mobile data is costly, but trust, payments to small shop owners and security of users must be handled well for PM-WANI to scale.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Comparison Range and speed
Standards 802.11
PM-WANI Public Wi-Fi

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the National e-Governance Plan. Next topic: National e-Governance Plan.

Key People and Terms

Bluetooth Short range wireless link
Wi-Fi IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN
Hotspot Wireless internet access point
Tethering Sharing mobile data
PM-WANI Public Wi-Fi framework
Li-Fi Light based data link

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Wi-Fi = IEEE 802.11; WiMAX = 802.16.
PM-WANI: December 2020.
Bluetooth SIG formed 1998.
Wi-Fi 6 = 802.11ax.
Li-Fi uses visible light.

Do Not Confuse With

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Personal area versus local area network
Hotspot and tethering Access point versus sharing phone data
Wi-Fi and Li-Fi Radio waves versus light

Memory Hook

Bluetooth is ten metres and low power; Wi-Fi is 802.11; PM-WANI puts hotspots in shops.

Mains Angle

Questions ask for differences, standards and PM-WANI. These points help.

Need Access
Scheme PM-WANI
Risk Security

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Discuss how public Wi-Fi under PM-WANI can improve internet access in India and the challenges in its adoption.”

How to Answer

Technology Wi-Fi basics.
Scheme PM-WANI model.
Benefits Low cost access.
Challenges Trust, security.

GS Relevance

Prelims: Bluetooth versus Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.11, PM-WANI, Li-Fi. GS Paper 3: science and technology, IT and communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Bluetooth and Wi-Fi?

Bluetooth is a low power, short range technology of about ten metres, meant to link personal devices such as headsets, watches and speakers. Wi-Fi is a higher speed, longer range technology based on IEEE 802.11, which connects devices to a local network and the internet through an access point.

What is a Wi-Fi hotspot?

A Wi-Fi hotspot is a location or device that offers internet access wirelessly to nearby devices. It may be a public place such as an airport with an access point, or a smartphone that shares its own mobile data connection, a practice known as tethering.

What is PM-WANI?

The Prime Minister's Wi-Fi Access Network Interface was approved by the Union Cabinet in December 2020. It lets small shopkeepers and others set up public Wi-Fi hotspots without any licence, fee or registration, through public data offices, aggregators and app providers, with a central registry maintained by C-DOT.

Which IEEE standard is used for Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi uses the IEEE 802.11 family of standards. Newer versions are named by the Wi-Fi Alliance as Wi-Fi 4 for 802.11n, Wi-Fi 5 for 802.11ac, Wi-Fi 6 for 802.11ax and Wi-Fi 7 for 802.11be. WiMAX, in contrast, is based on IEEE 802.16.

What is Li-Fi?

Li-Fi, or Light Fidelity, sends data by changing the brightness of LED lights very quickly, in a way the eye cannot see. It can reach high speeds over short distances and does not interfere with radio, but light cannot pass through walls, so its coverage is limited.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Wi-Fi is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard.

True

WiMAX is 802.16.

2 Bluetooth generally has a longer range than Wi-Fi.

False

Wi-Fi covers a larger area.

3 PM-WANI was approved in December 2020.