Establishing a network on a commercial and on an experimental basis are two different scenarios. Present ad-hoc systems lay in between these two situations. Low bandwidth with limited power poses a number of different operational requirements to these networks. In mobile ad-hoc networks, routine control functions such as routing, security, quality of service, etc. have specific requirements.

Unlike fixed wireless networks, current Internet protocols are not sufficient enough to meet the operational requirements of ad-hoc networks. This new art of network formation has a lot of potential benefits and may be able to change the whole art of wireless communication. Lack of efficient strategies to handle various network controls is one of the main challenges for mobile ad-hoc networks. However, in light of ongoing efforts and the growing interest in mobile ad-hoc network, we are not very far from seeing revolutionary change in today's wireless communication.

Dan Wolfson is a Project Manager for a southern California comunications technology company as well as a freelance writer and photographer in San Diego. His work has been published in Time, Life, USA Today and the South China Morning Post.