Taking wireless to the nth degree

The original 802.11 WiFi standard from the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE) was followed in fairly quick succession by various enhancements and amendments in response to market demands for greater speed, efficiency and security.

First came 802.11b, curiously followed by 802.11a, then alphabetically all the way up to 802.11g, which was ratified as the third main WiFi modulation standard in June 2003.

Working in the 2.4GHz band and operating at a maximum raw data rate of 54Mbps, the 802.11g standard seemed set to hold for a while as it was finally able to meet most demands for speed, efficiency and security.

However, in January 2004 the IEEE announced it had formed a new task group to develop yet another amendment to the 802.11 standard, this time aiming for a theoretical data throughput 10 times faster than 802.11g.

Although the real throughput of the 802.11g standard hasn`t been determined yet, it is expected to be at least 100Mbps, increasing towards 320Mbps.

With competing proposals for the 802.11g standard ostensibly resolved, the new standard appears to be heading for completion in the second half of this year under the guidance of the Enhanced Wireless Consortium (EWC).

Although the real throughput of the 802.11g standard hasn`t been determined yet, it is expected to be at least 100Mbps, increasing towards 320Mbps.

Warwick Ashford, portals managing editor

802.11n builds upon previous standards by adding multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology, which uses multiple transmitter and receiver antennas to allow for increased data throughput.

Since the IEEE 802.11n Working Group approved the EWC`s specification last month, WiFi vendors have begun punting in earnest, equipment based on the new standard, but is this something the market really needs?

According to some market commentators, current 802.11a/b/g wireless local area networks (WLANs) are still able to provide adequate performance for 90% of today`s networking applications, with some saying it`s "debatable" if users will even notice going from 54Mbps to 100Mbps in most applications.

Does this mean that promoting equipment based on the 802.11n standard is premature?

Not according to some wireless equipment vendors, who argue that speed is not really the issue. Although speed has been one of the chief drivers of amendments to the 802.11 standard, D-Link says interoperability of next-generation WLAN products is paramount.

The 802.11n standard has been drafted to support all major platforms, including consumer electronics, personal computing and handheld platforms to ensure interoperability throughout all major enterprise, home and public hotspot environments.

While this may sound way too altruistic, standardisation is good for suppliers and consumers alike and it is encouraging to see that at least equipment manufacturers and developers of IT systems are beginning to get real about the situation and act accordingly.

Standardisation not only creates a clearer market and supports the development of standards-based, interoperable products, but it also gives consumers a wider choice of goods and services without threat of being locked into agreements with vendors of proprietary solutions.

According to D-Link SA country manager Tobie van Schalkwyk, many local companies have been holding off from upgrading WLANs to the proprietary MIMO technology and waiting instead for the new 802.11n interoperable wireless standard.

Apart from interoperability considerations, some industry experts agree that higher WLAN data throughput will be required as next-generation wireless applications are developed, so it may soon be all about speed again after all.

Perhaps like wealth and sex appeal, when it comes to speed in networking there is no such thing as "too much".