Next-Generation Wi-Fi 802.11n Is Almost Here

摘要

We haven't been waiting for the next generation of Wi-Fi as long as the Ultra-Wideband (UWB) people have been waiting for their standard. But it is taking longer than most of us expected. For a while, it looked like 11n was going to go the way of the UWB standards fiasco-that is, no formal single industry standard replacing multiple solutions. But as of January 19, the IEEE's 802.11n Task Group accepted a joint proposal submitted by the Enhanced Wireless Consortium (EWC) as Draft 1.0 of the standard. There's still lots of work to do, but most members agree that we should see a final ratification of a standard in about a year. The Wi-Fi Alliance then can begin its testing and certification process, which has been the key factor in the success of the whole wirless local-area network movement.