IEEE Approves 802.11j Standard For Japanese WLAN

New standard expands spectrum and applications for WLAN technology

Sunnyvale, CA -- The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has ratified the 802.11j standard, an amendment to the existing IEEE 802.11 that provides specifications for using newly allocated Japanese spectrum in the 4.9 and 5 GHz bands for indoor, outdoor, and mobile applications.

The Japanese government published rules regarding the new spectrum's use for indoor, outdoor, and mobile environments in August 2002. The 802.11j standard provides a universal method of supporting new frequencies, different radio channel widths, and wireless operating settings.

"We applaud the IEEE for seeing this 802.11 amendment through the approval process," said Tomoki Ohsawa, general manager of Atheros Communications K.K. "The standard focuses on the new Japanese rules for wireless LAN use, however, it will have an impact in other countries where WLAN technology is progressively being used for hot spot, mobile and last-mile solutions."

In the United States, the 4.9 GHz band is being adopted for public safety and homeland security communications networks, enabling applications that can take advantage of WLAN technology's high performance, reliability, and low-cost. Communications vendors are currently delivering 4.9 GHz public safety band wireless solutions to police and fire departments for regional field trials.

Atheros worked closely with the IEEE, contributing to the development of the IEEE 802.11j, and the Multimedia Mobile Access Communication Systems Promotion Council (MMAC-PC) in Japan through the Association of Radio Industries and Businesses (ARIB) standard's ratification. The result of IEEE's work is a standard that makes 802.11 networks more flexible by allowing them to communicate and adapt, moving to any new frequency or changing the channel width to increase network performance or user capacity. Additionally, the standard improves the interoperability of new 802.11 applications by providing uniform methods for specifying new frequencies and how to operate in both indoor and outdoor wireless environments.

Japanese cable companies, hot spot providers, utilities, and broadband carriers already offering wireless last-mile, vehicular, and hot spot access based upon current Atheros WLAN products will be able to support the newly ratified standard through a firmware upgrade.

Source: Atheros Communications