1. Cellular Network :
A cellular network, also known as a mobile network, operates over a group of cells covering geographic areas. There are base stations. Base stations are connected to the mobile switching center. There is an air interface of physical and link layer protocols between the mobile and the base station. It is a radio network distributed over land through network cells.
2. Ad Hoc Network :
A mobile ad hoc network (MANET) is a wireless network. MANET consists routable networking environment on top of a link layer ad hoc network. Mobile nodes are self-configured, self-healing network sets. These nodes are connected without any fixed infrastructure. Each node can also act as a router.
Difference between Cellular and Ad Hoc Wireless Network –
| Parameter | Cellular Network | Ad Hoc Network |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Topology | It uses star topology. | It uses mesh topology. |
| 2. Type of Switching | It uses Circuit Switching | It uses Packet Switching |
| 3. Network routing | It uses Centralized Network routing as all the network traffic goes through base station. | It uses distributed network routing because network traffic travels through nodes. |
| 4. Number of Hops | Single hop | Multiple hops |
| 5. Application | Designed for voice traffic | Designed to meet data traffic requirements |
| 6. Cost and time for deployment | Higher cost and takes more time for deployment | Lower cost and does not take more time for deployment |
| 7. Traffic route | All the traffic goes through the Base Station | No system such as Base station needed |
| 8. Call drops | Low call drops. | High call drops. |
| 9. Network maintenance | Maintenance is required time to time. | No maintenance is required. |
| 10. Technologies | IS-95, IS-136, GSM, Mobile WiMAX, CDMA, HSPA, LTE | WLAN 802.11e |
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