Mesh nets offer challenges

摘要

Though a late entry, Cisco's first wireless LAN mesh product will throw fuel on an already hot market. Wireless mesh networks based on the IEEE 802.11 standards offer a range of benefits, such as fast deployment, minimal cabling, unlicensed spectrum and broadband throughput rates over wide areas. Mesh promises to make 802.11-based data and voice services pervasive and affordable, at least in campus and metropolitan-area deployments. Those benefits are persuading a variety of customers to adopt mesh topologies: police and fire departments; campuses; construction companies; utilities; and, increasingly, local governments for business and residential Internet access.