Until recently, most users relied on Wi-Fi networks simply to access webpages and e-mail, activities that don’t require much bandwidth.
Now, the technology can be utilized in some cases for more demanding applications such as multimedia streaming and audioconferencing.
Today, however, users want more from their wireless technologies, such as the ability to smoothly stream video, download music or large data files, videconference, participate in multiplayer games, and remotely or automatically control thermostats or other systems.
The demand for using Wi-Fi for such purposes is driving dramatic changes to the technology.
IEEE is developing two faster Wi-Fi versions, both with theoretical maximum speeds of more than 1 Gbit per second. This level of performance has been a longtime goal of Wi-Fi proponents, noted Todd Antes, vice president of product management for the Networking Business Unit at Qualcomm, a provider of wireless technology and services.
IEEE isn’t expected to finish its standardization until the second half of next year, according to Rahul Patel, semiconductor vendor Broadcom’s vice president of marketing. However, industry observers say most of the important work on the standards is already done. Vendors thus have started releasing new products, such as access points (APs), based on one of the technologies.
The Wi-Fi Alliance and WiGig Alliance, both trade associations, are developing programs to guarantee that certified products will comply with the current state of the IEEE standards and interoperate with one another.
Industry observers say the new technologies mark another important step in the development of Wi-Fi technology. However, the new approaches face several important challenges to future success.