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Smooth or bumpy, 802.11n transition begins next year

From "WiFi market moves up a notch, says Broadcom," by Melanie Reynolds, Electronics Weekly, 21 November:

"WiFi based on the 802.11n draft specification will really come into its own next year, according to Broadcom, which expects the technology to account for 35 to 40 per cent of the total WiFi market by the end of 2007.

" 'What we see happening is a confluence of events in early 2007,' said Mike Hurlston, v-p, Broadcom's wireless LAN business. 'These things are really going to drive the 11n market for 2007 and we'll see a lot of pickup.'

"First on Hurlston's list is one of the laptop makers is going to '100 per cent attach 11n', so the technology will be configured inside all its laptop and desktop machines. [According to this Broadcom press release from July 2006, Hurlston is probably referring to Dell.]

"Intel is also expected 'to make a fairly aggressive splash on 11n' and the WiFi Alliance is also going for 'a very heavy push, certifying products in the first half of 2007'.

"The drive to introduce 802.11n, despite it currently being to a draft specification, is apparently coming from consumers.

" 'What you're seeing is a push from the laptop manufacturer's customers for more bandwidth on wireless connection,' said Hurlston. 'The manufacturers are looking for ways to offer it and it looks to them that draft 11n is the way to get there.'

"Hurlston sees no problem in going with the draft specification. 'The IEEE work has taken quite a lot of time and I think the relevant event is actually the WiFi Alliance certification,' he said. 'What a standard ensures is interoperability and I think what you see with the Alliance stepping in is they are filling a void, more so than the IEEE.'

"802.11n operates in the 2.4GHz or 5GHz band and offers a maximum data rate of 540Mbit/s - typically 200Mbit/s - with a range of 250m.
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NOTE: When Mr. Hurlston speaks of "interoperability" and sees "no problem in going with the draft specification," he is ignoring the claims of some companies that "Draft N" products will disable nearby 802.11b and g networks, and may not be compatible with "Final N" products. See "Airgo confirms 'draft 11n' products will cripple neighboring 11b/g networks," by Tim Higgins, TG Daily, 13 March 2006, and "Dell Joins Draft N Delusion," by Glenn Fleishman, Wi-Fi Net News, 17 July 2006. Intel, however, says such problems can be solved.

[802.11n 22 November 2006]