As use of the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band does not require a authorization in most of the world provided that one stays below the 100 mWatt limit and one accepts interference from other; including interference which causes your devices to no longer function. It is alleged that Amateur Radio operators have license to boost the power on their routers up to the legal maximum for their license class, which tends to be 1500 watts. The 802.11b and 802.11g flavors of Wi-Fi use the 2.4 GHz spectrum, which is crowded with other devices such as Bluetooth, microwave ovens, cordless phones (900 MHz or 5.8 GHz are, therefore, alternative phone frequencies one can use if one has a Wi-Fi network), or video sender devices, among many others. This may cause degradation in performance. Other devices which use microwave frequencies such as certain types of cell phones can also cause degradation in performance.

Another major drawback of the Wi-Fi is its legislation. This is not same worldwide; most of Europe allows for an additional 2 channels; Japan has one more on top of that and some countries, like Spain, prohibit use of the lower-numbered channels. Furthermore some countries, such as Italy, require a 'general authorization' for any WiFi used outside the owned premises.

The WEP, which is most common wireless encryption standard, is easily breakable. It is even when correctly configured. Although newer wireless products are slowly providing support for the Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) protocol, many older access points will have to be changed to support it. The adoption of the 802.11i (aka WPA2) standard in June 2004 makes available a rather better security scheme for future use The power is another major obstacle in the Wi-Fi technology. Its power consumption is fairly high compared to other standards, making battery life lower.

More than 129 years after the first telephone call was made. Man has revolutionalised the mode of non-personal communication. Wi-Fi is an added advantage in the direction of this.