IEEE
802.11 Adopts Proposal by Alantro Communications for Enhanced
Performance Option for Wireless LAN; New Option Provides Robust,
High-Speed 2.4Ghz Wireless LAN Transmission
SANTA
ROSA, Calif.--(BUSINESS
WIRE)--Oct. 12, 1998--The Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 international standards
committee, responsible for developing wireless local area network
(WLAN) specifications, recently adopted a proposal developed by
Alantro Communications for a high-performance option for
high-speed wireless data transmission. The IEEE 802.11 committee
is currently working on the draft for a high-speed mode (up to 11
megabits per second) to the existing wireless LAN standard. This
new standard will enable users to wirelessly connect their PC's,
workstations, and other products at speeds up to 5.5 times faster
than the current standard. The Alantro Communications proposal is
a robust, variable-rate scheme that will offer performance
enhancements such as extended range, increased reliability, and
multipath immunity, while remaining compatible with the existing
standard. This design extends direct sequence spread spectrum
(DSSS) radio transmission, combined with advanced forward error
control (FEC) technology, to maximize throughput in varying
environments. "This technology will enable wireless LANs to
offer robust connections at speeds necessary for enterprise as
well as warehousing and retailing environments," said Chris
Heegard, CEO of Alantro Communications. "High-performance
enhancements to the existing standard are necessary to realize the
market potential available to wireless LANs." Wireless LANs
are a growing connectivity option for both large corporations and
small-to-medium businesses, including medical and educational
communities. The increasingly mobile nature of business and rising
need for Internet connectivity are fueling this growth.
Applications for wireless LANs include mobile Internet access,
manufacturing, retail point-of-sale, health care, education, small
office/home office, and enterprise networking. The new IEEE 802.11
standard for high-speed wireless LAN is expected to be complete in
1999.
About
Alantro Communications
Alantro
Communications is a company that specializes in physical-layer
communications technology. Founded in Santa Rosa, California in
August 1997, Alantro Communications has unique expertise in
existing and emerging forward error control (FEC) and
modulation/demodulation technology. These expertise enables
Alantro to produce standards-based, physical layer ASIC solutions
that are extremely efficient and high performing. Alantro also
specializes in next generation and advanced FEC methodology. |