Providers of wireless access points and other equipment have started to release products that conform with a next-generation standard, called “gigabit Wi-Fi,” that has the potential to be up to four times as fast as the current 802.11n technology.
The new technology, 802.11ac, is designed to relieve network congestion by increasing speed limits to more than 1 gigabit per second and moving to a new highway, from the congested lanes of the 2.4-gigahertz frequency band to a more open 5-gigahertz spectrum.
The changes should mean that wireless routers and access points will be able to accommodate more devices at one time and provide better coverage throughout a school building or office space. In areas crowded with other electronics, the 5 GHz spectrum also offers the promise of less interference, meaning connections shouldn’t randomly drop.
“We expect that the users will see a significant increase in the performance of their applications,” said Greg Ennis, technical director of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
The trade association owns the Wi-Fi trademark, and it must say that a product works correctly with other Wi-Fi certified products before a device can carry the official Wi-Fi seal. The alliance began certifying 802.11ac products over the summer.
Everything that’s certified as 802.11ac will work with older gadgets.
But to take advantage of the faster speeds and wider bandwidth, both ends of a transmission must have the new technology. Older computers can be upgraded using an 802.11ac USB adapter.
Aerohive Networks introduced two access points in October that support the 802.11ac standard.
Bradley Chambers, director of IT at Brainerd Baptist School, said his school uses Aerohive’s solution to manage its wireless devices, and moving to 802.11ac access points will help alleviate strain on the network.
“Even modern 802.11n deployments can drop in 802.11ac access points in congested areas to see immediate relief,” he said.
Aruba Networks also sells enterprise-ready 802.11ac access points. Stony Brook University, part of the State University of New York system, has upgraded its Javits Lecture Center and plans to outfit its new indoor sports complex with Aruba’s 802.11ac access points to accommodate the dramatic increase in mobile and wireless devices that its 24,000 students and 12,000-plus staff are using on campus.
Robert Fenstermacher, director of product and solutions marketing for Aruba, said schools might want to upgrade their switches and pull two Gigabit Ethernet cables to each access point to take advantage of the standard’s full capabilities.
“We’re telling people to pull two cables to each access point if possible,” he said.
Chris Koeneman, vice president of sales for ADTRAN’s Bluesocket Business Group, said ADTRAN will release an enterprise-ready 802.11ac access point in December. As with most new technologies, there are a lot of misconceptions about 802.11ac, he cautioned.
“Don’t get me wrong; 802.11ac will bring benefits,” he said. “But there are many basics that need to be in place before 802.11ac will make a difference.”
Because the new standard operates on the 5 GHz channel, he said, there will be less interference—but the tradeoff will be less range (about 20 percent shorter). Also, 802.11ac equipment is more expensive.
“The price difference between ‘ac’ and ‘n’ will make ‘n’ the dominant choice in 2013—and still the majority choice in 2014 in the enterprise,” he predicted.
The last major Wi-Fi upgrade began in 2007, with the launch of the 802.11n technology. “N” was the successor to “a,” “b,” and “g” standards. By the end of the year, the Wi-Fi Alliance expects to start certifying a more niche “ad” technology. Its optimal use is limited to small areas with dozens of devices connecting to a network, such as classrooms or a small, public hot spot.
Why are letters being doubled up now? The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, which oversees wireless standards, used “o” through “z” to denote minor technical changes since the launch of “n.”
(c) 2013, the Los Angeles Times, with additional reporting from eSchool Media. Visit the Los Angeles Times online at www.latimes.com; distributed by MCT Information Services.
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