Wireless mesh networks: Opportunities and challenges

Abstract — Wireless mesh networks have the potential to deliver Internet broadband access, wireless local area net-work coverage and network connectivity for stationary or mobile hosts at low costs both for network operators and customers. The core technology involves a network of wireless routers relaying each others ’ packets in a multihop fashion. Many variations on targeted applications and implementation choices offer different opportunities to emerging companies in this emerging area. In this article, we will present an introduction to wireless mesh networks and present both the benefits enabled by this technology and the main hurdles that have to be overcome. I