[MLB-WIRELESS] [Fwd: 802.16a Scheduled for Approval In January]

[Drew]

This is good news, as 802.16a is made specifically for metropolian area 
networks.

D

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 802.16a Scheduled for Approval In January
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 23:21:17 -0800
From: Yournet at hotmail.com <yournet at hotmail.com>
Reply-To: dev at seattlewireless.net
To: <dev at seattlewireless.net>



The Wireless Metro Area Networking standard (WMAN), 802.16a, 'sponsor ballot' has been voted on and passed and submitted for revue and approval by the IEEE 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee.  .16a is the section of WMAN that governs spectrum from 2-11 GHz.

This is very significant for CWN and other unlicensed spectrum users.  802.16 defines the Wireless Metro Area Network that can provide much greater distances and functionality than found in the 802.11 Wireless Local Area NW specification.  It includes ground-up provisions for mesh networking, smart targetable array antenna system (closer integration into the base radio system), and other features that will provide a much more useful development platform for wide area networks.

802.16a still needs to get past the 802 committee.  It was put to them last summer and was kicked back for changes required to make it work better with existing specifications and iron out a few rough areas.  Besides the specification, a group and guidelines for compliance testing has also been developed. This time it has a pretty good chance of passage.  From the time of final passage, a few WAN system suppliers, including Alvarion, BeamReach, Wi-Lan, and a couple others will come out within about six months with systems that comply with the standard.  It will probably be at least a year before merchant chip vendors such as Intersil or Broadcom come out with chip sets that meet the standard.  Although it will be perhaps years before the cost of 802.16a customer premises units approach close to that of WLAN gear, it won't be very long before CWN groups will want to start to consider using 802.16a gear for backbone networks or portions of the user network. Over time this shou!
ld be a very influential development for CWN - allowing non-line-of-sight use of up to a few miles between base stations and users.  Perhaps the most practical use will be for a tiered network: 802.16a to 802.11g 0r .11a.




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