Q: What are the details of the 802.11g draft standard?
The 802.11g draft standard, selected in November 2001, provides 54Mbps wireless networking capabilities, similar to that of 802.11a but in the same band as 802.11b to offer higher Wi-Fi compatible data-rates for wireless local area networks (WLANs). 802.11g devices will be seamlessly interoperable and backwards compatible with the existing 802.11b devices and also provide forward compatibility with 802.11a devices since there are shared modulations between 802.11g with both existing WLAN standards. This provides convergence of 802.11b and 802.11a, two WLAN standards that are not interoperable or compatible.
Q: What are the next steps for the draft to become the standard?
The IEEE 802.11g task group must now complete the technical comment resolution process of the 802.11g draft standard through letter ballot. This is where members' questions are answered and implementation details are clarified. Ultimately, the standard will go for final ratification, which requires 90 percent approval. The significance of this technology selection, however, is such that companies can now begin designing products intended to be 802.11g compliant, with a high degree of certainty as to their final compliance with the standard. It is expected that the final 802.11g standard will be completed in late 2001.
