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Historical Perspective – Evolution of IEEE802.11 Standards

March 12, 2008

IEEEIEEE

IEEE Charter “IEEE’s core purpose is to IEEE Charter “IEEE’s core purpose is to foster technological innovation and foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of excellence for the benefit of humanity”humanity”

““Standard” something established by Standard” something established by authority, custom, or general consent authority, custom, or general consent as a modelas a model Merriam-webster dictionary Merriam-webster dictionary

IEEE Logo is exclusive property of IEEE

WFAWFA

To drive the adoption of a single To drive the adoption of a single worldwide-accepted standard for worldwide-accepted standard for high-speed Wireless Local Area high-speed Wireless Local Area NetworkingNetworking

Wireless technology brand which Wireless technology brand which promotes with the aim of improving promotes with the aim of improving interoperability of WLAN products interoperability of WLAN products based on the IEEE 802.11 standards.based on the IEEE 802.11 standards.

Source: www.wi-fi.orgLogo is exclusive property of WFA

802.11 Starts…802.11 Starts…

IEEE 802.11-1997IEEE 802.11-1997• BPSK/QPSK ModulationBPSK/QPSK Modulation• 900 MHz/2.4 GHz, Max Data Rate of 2Mbps900 MHz/2.4 GHz, Max Data Rate of 2Mbps• Range of ~150ftRange of ~150ft

IEEE 802.11b-1999 AmendmentIEEE 802.11b-1999 Amendment• CCK ModulationCCK Modulation• 2.4 GHz, Max Data Rate of 11Mbps2.4 GHz, Max Data Rate of 11Mbps• Range of ~150ftRange of ~150ft

802.11a,g Amendment802.11a,g Amendment

IEEE 802.11a-1999 AmendmentIEEE 802.11a-1999 Amendment• OFDM ModulationOFDM Modulation• 5GHz, Max Data Rate of 54 Mbps5GHz, Max Data Rate of 54 Mbps• Range of ~100ftRange of ~100ft

IEEE 802.11g-2003 AmendmentIEEE 802.11g-2003 Amendment• OFDM ModulationOFDM Modulation• 2.4 GHz, Max Data Rate of 54 Mbps2.4 GHz, Max Data Rate of 54 Mbps• Range of ~150ftRange of ~150ft

What’s the big deal w/802.11nWhat’s the big deal w/802.11n

OFDM - Yes, already used in .11a/g to OFDM - Yes, already used in .11a/g to achieve 54Mbps but .11n OFDM achieve 54Mbps but .11n OFDM builds on .11a/g thru the use of MIMO builds on .11a/g thru the use of MIMO and PHY coding techniques allowing and PHY coding techniques allowing more bandwidth per channel and more bandwidth per channel and higher code rateshigher code rates

More…MIMO antenna systems, 40 More…MIMO antenna systems, 40 Mhz channels, RIFS, …..Mhz channels, RIFS, …..

Latest! 802.11n AmendmentLatest! 802.11n Amendment

TGn Draft 2.0 approved, Sept ‘07TGn Draft 2.0 approved, Sept ‘07 TGn Draft 3.0 approved, Nov ’07TGn Draft 3.0 approved, Nov ’07 Ratification expected June ‘09Ratification expected June ‘09 2.4GHz / 5GHz, Max Data Rate of 2.4GHz / 5GHz, Max Data Rate of

600Mbps600Mbps Up to 4 Spatial StreamsUp to 4 Spatial Streams Range of ~300ftRange of ~300ft Draft Products Shipping TodayDraft Products Shipping Today

802.11n Momentum802.11n Momentum

01,000,0002,000,0003,000,0004,000,0005,000,0006,000,0007,000,0008,000,0009,000,000

10,000,00011,000,00012,000,000

802.11n Clients 802.11nEnterprise AP's

802.11nConsumer AP's

Installed Base Estimated Deployment '08

Source: Dell’Oro Wireless LAN Report Q3, 07

2,600,000

5,400,000

15000230,000

4,000,000

12,000,000

Huh?

Early adopters (you and me)

Enterprise Hesitation?Enterprise Hesitation?

Larger Investment $$$$$$Larger Investment $$$$$$ Will Draft 2.0 products be compatible Will Draft 2.0 products be compatible

with final ratified standard?with final ratified standard? No ratified standard means no No ratified standard means no

guarantee!!guarantee!! Uhh, I think we’ll wait….Uhh, I think we’ll wait….

But Wait…..But Wait…..

Stability since early 2007 Stability since early 2007

(even with multiple rounds of balloting (even with multiple rounds of balloting in .11 wg)in .11 wg)

Hardware will change only if absolutely Hardware will change only if absolutely requiredrequired

Core feature level should be software Core feature level should be software

(Low Impact)(Low Impact) Market success of Draft 2.0Market success of Draft 2.0 More benefits than risksMore benefits than risks

11

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

MUnits

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Worldwide WLAN Market - Networking & PC

11n Adoption11n Adoption

11g remains high volume through 201011g remains high volume through 2010

Inflection Point: 11n begins to significantly replace 11a/g in 2008Inflection Point: 11n begins to significantly replace 11a/g in 2008•11n as volume leader in 200911n as volume leader in 2009

Source: In-Stat, 2007

11g

11n11a/g

11n Adoption

Why WLAN needs 802.3zWhy WLAN needs 802.3z

Throughput,Throughput,Throughput..Throughput,Throughput,Throughput.. Without GigE, WLAN products will be Without GigE, WLAN products will be

artificially constrainedartificially constrained 802.3u will be Bottleneck802.3u will be Bottleneck 802.3ab?......huh…fiber…what?802.3ab?......huh…fiber…what?

Carrier MarketCarrier Market

Source=AT&T, ‘07

WLAN Gateway and IPTV Growth MarketWLAN Gateway and IPTV Growth Market

0

10,000

20,000

30,000

40,000

50,000

60,000

70,000

80,000

90,000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

IPTV STB

Advanced Home Netw ork Gatew ay

Multiplay Gatew ay

Basic Data Gatew ay

Dell’Oro 2007

802.11i Amendment (TGw)802.11i Amendment (TGw)

802.11w (we are running out of 802.11w (we are running out of alphabet)alphabet)

TG formed in 3/2005TG formed in 3/2005 Published Spec due in May this yearPublished Spec due in May this year Protection of Management frames Protection of Management frames

(MAC Layer)(MAC Layer) Unicast and Broadcast framesUnicast and Broadcast frames

Where is it all going?Where is it all going?

Wireless Convergence (BT, GPS, Wireless Convergence (BT, GPS, WLAN, Cellular)WLAN, Cellular)

Consolidation of radio technologies in Consolidation of radio technologies in a single packagea single package

Only time will tellOnly time will tell