Sevana: IEEE: Happy 25th birthday, Wi-Fi!

The international standard for Wi-Fi, LAN has been around more than two decades

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers recently marked the historic 25th anniversary of IEEE 802.11, the international standard that defines the world’s Wi-Fi and LAN networks.

In a statement released to the press, the IEEE said the standard “underpins wireless networking applications around the world that impact our daily lives, such as wireless access to the Internet from offices, homes, airports, hotels, restaurants, trains and aircraft.”

Konstantinos Karachalios, managing director of IEEE Standards Association, said, “The many people who have worked on the IEEE 802.11 standard have forever changed our world. As one of the more popular and universally known IEEE standards, IEEE 802.11 already enhances ways of life around the world; for the new generations, home will virtually be where there is good wireless Internet connectivity. Thus, IEEE 802.11’s role is exploding, also with the proliferation of application innovations such as the IoT [Internet of Things]. The high quality and broad commercial acceptance of the standard is a testament to the dedication, innovation and vision of the IEEE 802.11 working group’s members.”

In conjunction with this historic anniversary, RCR Wireless News sat down with Aruba Networks’ Dorothy Stanley, the second vice chairwoman of IEEE, to further explore the everyday wonder that is Wi-Fi and discuss what the future might hold.

Stanley pointed out that Wi-Fi has become almost universal. “We have nationwide Wi-Fi, and we have global Wi-Fi. It’s not ubiquitous coverage as you have with cellular. The technology wasn’t defined for complete ubiquitous cover the way cellular was but that may be something you’ll see in the future.”

The massive growth of global wireless technology has lead to a massive increase in the value and demand for spectrum. Some companies are now pushing the development of LTE-U technology as a means to operate LTE in teh same unlicensed spectrum used by Wi-Fi. Stanley noted that the debate over LTE-U and Wi-Fi does not have to be a contentious one, “The technology uses the same spectrum, so what’s going on now is conversations of how to make Wi-Fi work with LTE.”

On the subject of wheather Wi-Fi can help offset the spectrum shortages, Stanley is quite adamant: “Wi-Fi absolutely can be a key to addressing spectrum shortage.”

Stanley also expects to see Wi-Fi continue to expand across different bandwidths adding. Take a look at the whole interview here.

According to IEEE, the first meeting of 802.11 was its study group in September 1990. The group celebrated the anniversary during July at a session in Waikoloa, Hawaii.

The entirety of the 802 standards are available for free download here.

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