Licenceexempt the emergence of WiFi

Purpose This paper aims to provide a description of the genesis and development of WiFi, or how the industry exploited an opportunity provided by the regulators in allowing radio communications in the unlicensed bands originally allocated for industrial, medical and scientific applications. Designmethodologyapproach The longitudinal case describes the genesis and development of WiFi, with a focus on the interplay between regulation, innovation, standardization, and running a successful business. Findings The paper argues that the current day success of WiFi is a combined result of a change in the US communications policy in the 1980s the industry leadership provided by NCR, its successors and collaborators, to create a global standard and to deliver compatible products under the WiFi label and the influence of the users that moved the application of WirelessLANs from the enterprise to the home, from indoor to outdoor use, from a communications product to a service, and from operators to endusers as the provider of that service. Research limitationsimplications The exploration and analysis are based on contributions by experts from the field, having been involved first hand in the innovation journey of WiFi. Practical implications The case describes the first globally successful largescale application of radio communication devices operating under a licenceexempt radio frequency regime. The case is a contemporary example of innovation and product development leading to an open standard. In concluding the paper reflects on the implications of this licenceexempt case for the governance of the radio spectrum. Originalityvalue While many articles and books have appeared discussing the technical aspects of WiFi, the case description documents the genesis and development of WiFi from an entrepreneurial perspective.