The invention relates to a method for providing a wireless local network, wherein stationary communication devices and mobile communication devices are connected in the manner of a mesh as the sub-network, which is particularly connected to an infrastructure network and configured such that it can exchange authentication messages with at least one communication device, which is particularly disposed in the infrastructure network and provides an authentication function. During an attempt to establish a first link by a first communication device connected to a communication device providing the authentication function to a second communication device connected to the communication device providing the authentication function, an authenticator role to be assigned as part of an authentication process is associated with the first and second communication devices, wherein at least one property correlating with the connection is analyzed for meeting a criterion. The invention further relates to an arrangement comprising means for carrying out the method.