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There are some reasons to go for a wireless system, for example when you can’t just go and run new wires to have switches in places you’d want to. Either because it’s an old house or a rented unit or something like that. But when planning a refurbishment or new construction, pulling (ethernet) wires is the safe bet.

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So what powers the switches then?

Batteries for example, or you may have power from other circuits that you can tap. A light circuit with multiple switches requires comparatively complex wiring - either all switches need to connect to a central point (breaker box) or you need to have some sort of loop that passes by all switches. It’s nontrivial to retrofit. Some sort of (wireless) bus system that transmits the signal digitally can help reducing that complexity.

There are switches that use the kinetic energy of the button push to work. No batteries, no wires.

https://www.enocean.com/en/products/enocean_modules_24ghz/

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