2.5 Conclusions

In this chapter, we have presented state-of-the-art wireless Internet technologies and their shortcomings. Prioritizing formulation of problems before solutions, we redefined wireless Internet as a range of opportunities fueled by the lack of wires and mobility rather than an array of obstacles in competing with wired Internet. Viewing wireless Internet as such, we introduced emerging network architectures and enabling technologies that pave the way toward this vision. Wireless Internet, if fully realized, will be the pervasive network that will disappear from the point of view of the end user. The network will sense the present state of its users, as well as predict their future needs and adapt, react, and plan proactively. In order to have these abilities, wireless Internet will need to be a network of networks, whose boundaries will be as transparent as possible to the user.