Wi-Fi specs approach 100Mbit/s

First draft of specifications reaches the IEEE

A first draft of the 802.11n wireless LAN (WLAN) standard was unanimously approved by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) last week. The approval could prompt vendors to ship compliant equipment in mid-2006, though the final specification will not be ratified for another year.

802.11n access points and client devices should offer a maximum rate of over 100Mbit/s, double that of current 802.11g Wi-Fi gear, and potentially 300Mbit/s. Enhanced range, backwards compatibility with existing 802.11a/b/g kit, better reliability and improved resistance to signal interference are also expected.

Greg Raleigh, chief executive of WLAN vendor Airgo Networks, warned that firms should not expect robust, interoperable equipment too soon, however. “Having something that meets the draft spec means nothing – it will only be interoperable after the spec is ratified and then the kit [must be] certified by the Wi-Fi Alliance,” he said. “That could be 2007.”

Vendors are certain to embed 802.11n chipsets into their notebook and handheld PCs, but the new system might run up against other wireless technologies such as WiMax.

Last week Intel repeated its promise to deliver WiMax-enabled laptops by 2007, to support mobile roaming among WiMax base stations as well as fixed wireless broadband links over several kilometres.

“The challenge we face in WiMax is we have to drive the price [of equipment] down,” said Sean Maloney, general manager of Intel’s mobility group.