IEEE commits Wi-Fi refresh to standard

Wi-Fi standards have received a refresh that formalizes various technologies developed in the last four years under the IEEE’s standards processes.

With the publication of 802.11-2012, the standards body brings better security, smoother cellular handoff, QoS, and mesh networking into the fold. It’s just the fourth major refresh of the standard since the 1990s.

One of the key changes to 802.11 now formalized is the 2008 amendment allowing systems to use the 3650 to 3700 MHz radio band. While regulation of this band isn’t uniform around the world, in America systems can operate at up to 20 watts, much higher than household Wi-Fi kit.

This spectrum targets longer-distance outdoor applications.

The IEEE also says the release includes specs covering vehicular Wi-Fi applications, improved radio resource management, and specs defining how unicast, broadcast and multicast communications are handled. ®