Apparatus for network communication includes a cable arranged to form a wired local area network (LAN), the cable comprising at least first and second conductors. A plurality of access points are interconnected by the cable and are arranged in a wireless local area network (WLAN) to communicate over the air on a common frequency channel with a mobile station. The access points are adapted to convey data to and from the mobile station over the LAN via the first conductor and to exchange control messages among the access points via the second conductor.