IEEE approves 802.11n WiFi standard


14 Sep 2009

After six years, almost a dozen drafts, and two years of products available under Wi-Fi Alliance certification, IEEE approved the 802.11n wireless standard.

Amongst products now including the 802.11n WiFi standard is the iPod touch, and now that it is standardized and new products begin to include this, it will improve wireless internet connectivity speeds in comparison to the current 802.11g standard.

802.1n is also more energy efficient and can make for speedier WiFi on handheld devices without burning through as much battery power.

“The performance improvements achieved via IEEE 802.11n stand to transform the WLAN user experience, and ratification of the amendment sets the stage for a new wave of application innovation and creation of new market opportunities,” said Bruce Kraemer, chair of the IEEE Wireless LAN Working Group.

The final ratification of the 802.11n wireless standard was reached after more than 400 individuals from equipment and silicon suppliers, service providers, systems integrators, consultant organizations and academic institutions from more than 20 countries participated in a seven-year effort.

Publication of the amendment is scheduled for mid-October.

“This was an extraordinarily wide-ranging technical challenge that required the sustained effort and concentration of a terrific variety of participants. When we started in 2002, many of the technologies addressed in 802.11n were university research topics and had not been implemented,” said Kraemer.

By Marie Boran, via Gadgetrepublic.com