1. 802.16：
802.16是一个IEEE标准，定义了微波访问(WiMAX)技术产品的无线互操作性。它涵盖了所有WiMAX系列产品。它针对50公里进行了优化。它在整个覆盖范围内提供服务，以实现连续连接。从可用性的角度来看，此802.16标准提供了更大的可伸缩性。
2. 802.11：
802.11是定义无线局域网(WLAN)或WiFi的IEEE标准。它涵盖了所有WLAN系列产品。它针对近100米进行了优化。它不会在整个覆盖范围内提供服务以实现连续连接。从可用性的角度来看，此802.11标准提供的可伸缩性较小。
802.16和802.11之间的区别：
| S.No. | 802.16 | 802.11 |
|---|---|---|
| 01. | IEEE 802.16 standard defines WiMAX. | IEEE 802.11 standard defines WLAN or WiFi. |
| 02. | It is designed for long distance/wide area. | It is designed for limited area. |
| 03. | It provides a coverage range of 7 km to 50 km. | It provides a coverage range of 30 m to 100m. |
| 04. | 802.16 standard is used for outdoor usage. | 802.11 standard is used for indoor usage. |
| 05. | It operates on frequencies of 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz. | It operates on frequencies of 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz, 5.8GHz. |
| 06. | Standard variants of 802.16 are 802.16a, 802.16d, 802.16e, 802.16m etc. | Standard variants of 802.11 are 802.11a, 11b, 11g, 11n, 11ac, 11ad etc. |
| 07. | It provides a data rate of 100 Mbps in a 20 MHz channel. | It provides a data rate of 54 Mbps in 20 MHz channel. |
| 08. | Large number of customers are connected to this as it covers a wide area. | Limited number of customers/devices are connected which are with in the limited range. |
| 09. | For encryption purpose it uses Data Encryption Standard with Advanced Encryption Standard. | For encryption purpose it uses Rivest Cipher 4. |
| 10. | Different QoS options are available like UGS, rtPS, nrtPS, BE, etc | It does not provide any QoS but Supported in IEEE 802.11e. |
| 11. | Bandwidths varies dynamically as per user requirement from 1.5 to 28 MHz. | Bandwidth variants are 20 MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz and 160 MHz. |