802.11n Wi-Fi standard approved
Published: 14 Sep 2009 08:25 BST
The IEEE has finally approved the 802.11n high-throughput wireless LAN standard.
Finalisation of the new wireless-networking standard — which is capable of delivering throughput speeds up to 300Mbps (and even higher) — took exactly seven years from the day it was conceived, or six years from the first draft version. The standard has been through a dozen or so draft versions.
News of the ratification broke via a blog post displaying an email sent by Bruce Kraemer, longtime chairman of the 802.11n Task Group, to task group members, and a press release followed.
The 802.11n Task Group is part of the 802.11 Working Group, which oversees WLAN (wireless local-area network) standards. Task group members include the majority of Wi-Fi chipmakers, software developers and equipment OEM vendors. Meru Networks, one of the members, posted the blog that broke the news.
According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, the group that tests and certifies wireless products to ensure their interoperability, all existing Wi-Fi Certified Draft N wireless products will still work with the final standard.
802.11n offers much higher speeds than the previous, already-ratified 802.11g, which caps at only 54Mbps. Due to the compelling higher speed, most wireless vendors haven been offering 802.11n-based (also known as Wireless-N) products during the past six years and calling them Draft N products. Now the Draft is no more.
According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, most, if not all, of the existing equipment can be upgraded to the final specification via a firmware update. Finally, all future wireless networking products will be compatible with today's products that have been Wi-Fi-certified.
Credit: 802.11n Wi-Fi standard finally approved from CNET News
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