Wireless internet changed our lives, making it possible to do so much more in so many places—around the home or office, or even way out in the wilderness. Yet you likely never think about it, so long as it’s working. It’s like oxygen: You take it for granted until it’s gone—and panic sets in.

The people developing and implementing standards for wireless internet for years have had the same goal: to make connections faster, while using less power. Now they’re faced with a different dilemma. We’re on the cusp of an unprecedented...