Wireless communication apparatus and wireless communication method

A wireless communication apparatus comprising:

• a wireless module executing wireless communication with a target wireless apparatus in conformity with a first wireless communication standard and a second wireless communication standard having the maximum communication rate higher than that of the first wireless communication standard;
• a network environment acquisition unit acquiring, from the target wireless apparatus, network environment information used to specify whether there is a first wireless apparatus executing communication in conformity with the first wireless communication standard within a communication area of the target wireless apparatus;
• a wireless connection unit establishing wireless connection with the target wireless apparatus by transmitting and receiving a frame to and from the target wireless apparatus via the wireless module;
• a data communication unit executing data communication with the target wireless apparatus, with which the wireless connection unit has established the wireless connection, via the wireless module;
• and
• a communication rate control unit (A) controlling the wireless module, when the wireless connection unit establishes the wireless connection, so that the wireless module executes the communication in conformity with the first wireless communication standard when there is the first wireless apparatus within the communication area, whereas the wireless module executes the communication in conformity with the second wireless communication standard when there is no first wireless apparatus within the communication area and (B) controlling the wireless module to execute the communication in conformity with the second wireless communication standard, when the data communication unit executes the data communication.