IEEE TASK GROUP ADVANCES STANDARDS PROCESS FOR HIGHER-SPEED
802.11(TM) WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORKS
Contact:
Stuart J. Kerry,
Chair, IEEE 802.11 Working Group +1 408 474 7356, stuart@ok-brit.com
or Bruce Kraemer, Chair, IEEE 802.11n Task Group +1 321 327 6704, bkraemer@conexant.com
or Karen McCabe, IEEE Senior Marketing Manager +1 732-562-3824, k.mccabe@ieee.org
PISCATAWAY, N.J., USA, 6 February 2006 The task group responsible for developing
the IEEE 802.11n project has voted to accept, as a baseline, a joint proposal
to amend the IEEE 802.11(TM) wireless local area network (WLAN) standard by adding
specifications for new technologies that will raise WLAN connection speeds to
as much as 600 Mbps (megabits per second).
The task group working on this
amendment, IEEE P802.11n(TM), “Wireless LAN Medium Access Control (MAC) and
Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications: Enhancements for Higher Throughput”,
voted unanimously (184/0/4) to confirm the joint proposal as a baseline. The project
to develop IEEE 802.11n began in 2003 to ensure the interoperability of the next
generation of WLAN devices. A draft of the amendment is expected in late 2006,
with publication slated for 2007.
“The IEEE 802.11 Wireless LAN working
group continues to improve this WLAN standard to meet the evolving needs of the
public and industry,” said Stuart J. Kerry, Chair of the IEEE 802.11 Working
Group on Wireless Local Area Networks. “Hundreds of technical experts from
the world’s leading technology companies, academic institutions and government
agencies have collaborated to develop the foundation for new high-throughput wireless
LAN technology.”
Bruce Kraemer, Chair of the IEEE 802.11n High Throughput
Task Group, adds that “reaching this step is a significant milestone. It
demonstrates the success of the IEEE consensus process in bringing together the
diverse interests of enterprises and consumers. The technology to be incorporated
into IEEE 802.11n will provide new capabilities to diverse industry sectors ranging
from computer and consumer electronics to public access and mobile telephony.”
About
the IEEE 802.11 Working Group The IEEE 802.11 Working Group on Wireless
Local Area Networks has completed 10 projects since 1999 that have continued the
development and evolution of the IEEE 802.11 WirelessLAN(R) Standard for Wireless
Local Area Networks. The group currently has 520 individual voting members contributing
to 11 active projects. For more information on this working group, see http://www.ieee802.org/11.
About
the IEEE Standards Association The IEEE Standards Association, a globally
recognized standards-setting body, develops consensus standards through an open
process that brings diverse parts of an industry together. These standards set
specifications and procedures based on current scientific consensus. The IEEE-SA
has a portfolio of more than 870 completed standards and more than 400 standards
in development. For information on IEEE-SA see: http://standards.ieee.org/.
About
the IEEE The IEEE has more than 375,000 members in approximately 150 countries.
Through its members, the organization is a leading authority on areas ranging
from aerospace, computers and telecommunications to biomedicine, electric power
and consumer electronics. The IEEE produces nearly 30 percent of the world's literature
in the electrical and electronics engineering, computing and control technology
fields. This nonprofit organization also sponsors or cosponsors more than 300
technical conferences each year. Additional information about the IEEE can be
found at http://www.ieee.org/.
