A survey of contemporary wireless technologies and their research challenges

Background: In today’s hyperconnected world, wireless technologies such as Infrared, Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, Milli-meter wave (mmWave), and Near Field Communication (NFC) play a vital role in enabling seamless, real-time communication and data exchange. Together, they power smart homes, healthcare, transportation, and 5G-driven smart mobility, forming the invisible network that keeps our digital lifestyles efficient, secure, and interconnected. The objective of this work is to systematically provide a comparative detailed documentation on divergent wireless technologies like Infrared, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mmWave and NFC. This study synthesizes the mandatory information related to the objective of the wireless technology, its advantages, protocol standards, frequency band and coverage, application and structured set of research challenges relevant to future IoT, industrial automation, and context-aware applications. Outcome: A systematic study of Infrared, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mmWave, and NFC will develop a strong understanding of their operating principles, spectral usage, performance limits, and practical applications. This will enable informed technology selection, effective system design, and meaningful identification of research gaps for next-generation wireless systems such as smart mobility, Internet of Things (IoT), and 5G/6G-enabled networks.