Enhancing Mobility and Seamless Connectivity in IEEE 802.11 Wireless Lans for Next-Generation Mobile Networks

The rapid expansion of mobile data traffic and the proliferation of smart devices have intensified the demand for robust wireless connectivity. IEEE 802.11-based Wireless LANs (WLANs) offer high-throughput, cost-effective solutions for mobile access, yet face challenges in mobility management, seamless handoff, and load balancing. This paper proposes a Software Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV)-based architecture to enhance mobility in WLANs, enabling dynamic access point selection and seamless roaming. Simulation results demonstrate improved handoff latency, throughput, and network stability, validating the proposed framework’s viability for next-generation mobile networks.