Is it incorrect to use non-comparative adjectives while comparing two things?

Is it required to use comparative adjectives while comparing two things like this?

Wireless networks, compared to wired networks, suffer from slow(er) connection speed, long(er) delay, and (more) dropped connections.

It's possible, but not required.

Barry is correct.

One can use comparatives, which is quite proper in a comparison and does not impede interpretation; indeed, it must make it clearer, or this question wouldn't be asked.

or

One can rely on the clause compared to wired networks -- neatly inserted before the main verb like any other adverb -- to indicate that there is a comparison, followed immediately by the main verb suffer, which identifies its object NPs as the negative pole of the indicated comparison.

Since these NPs all represent unpleasant outcomes, they are interpreted correctly. However, this would not work at all if the sentence had been

Wireless networks, compared to wired networks, suffer from fast connection speed, short delay, and stable connections.