Agere Systems Inc. (Allentown, PA) announced support for a baseline wireless networking specification that establishes ultra-fast data streams for wireless HDTV transmissions as well as high-density user environments for corporate and retail wireless networks.
The proposal defines the next generation of wireless networking – referred to as the IEEE 802.11n protocol – to deliver a raw data rate of 500 megabits-per-second, roughly 10 times faster than wireless LANs. It also ensures broad interoperability with existing Wi-Fi® standards and support for all major personal computer, consumer electronics and mobile platforms.
Target applications for the 802.11n standard fall into two basic groups – those requiring high-speed data transmissions plus strong quality of service, and those that need the equivalent of wired network performance for such high-density environments as a large enterprise or apartment complex. Agere’s proposal incorporates continued innovations in multiple-input multiple-output techniques, as well as wide bandwidth channels, 5 GHz transmissions, and numerous operating modes to ensure robust data throughput, increased network capacity and legacy protocol compatibility.
Finalization of the 802.11n specification is expected to be completed by the IEEE in 2006.
