802.11n could be a game changer in 2008

We have a lot of geeky labels in our industry, and one of my new favorites is IEEE 802.11n. Just what do these letters and numbers mean? Simply stated, 802.11n is the latest revision of the wireless networking standard. Heck, it's so new that the standard hasn't even been ratified. That hasn't stopped the vendors from getting products to market. Aruba, Cisco Systems, Meru, and Trapeze are already shipping 802.11n-compliant Access Points (APs) and controllers.

Without going into technical detail, 802.11n drastically increases wireless data rates from 54 megabits per second (delivered by the existing 802.11g standard) to 248 megabits per second. Great in itself, but technology always gets better, faster, and cheaper so this isn't earth-shattering. The real news is that 802.11n represents a wireless "perfect storm" in that 802.11n equipment will marry fast wireless networking with quality of service, network identity, security, and application support. What's more, 802.11n will fit neatly with cellular and WiMax to form a seamless mobile WAN architecture. Think secure connectivity from any device, any network, and any location.

This makes 802.11n a potential big deal. Unlike earlier Wi-Fi standards, 802.11n could be a game changer in several ways:

1. The "all wireless network." With 802.11n, there may be no need for wired Ethernet edge switches anymore. This could make pure plays like Aruba, Meru, and Trapeze into very big companies over the next five years.

2. As 802.11n merges with cellular and WiMax networks, it could really create new service provider/enterprise opportunities for vendors like Alcatel-Lucent, Motorola, and Nortel Networks. This is another reason why Cisco grabbed WiMax start-up Navini Networks in October.

3. Margin-hungry service providers like AT&T, Level 3, and Verizon could offer a number of new managed services for a seamless mobile access network in the enterprise. The transition to 802.11n may be their ticket in the enterprise door.

Let me be the first, or at least an early industry insider, to put 802.11n on the list of "technologies to watch in 2008." Yes, mobility and hot spots are great, but 802.11n may be the wireless standard that turns the enterprise networking market on its head.

[ewelch]

Forget about it

Paranoid IT departments, apoplectic at the very thought of
introducing wireless connections in the workplace will nix any
chance of this happening. It would mean more work for them,
greater responsibility to secure the network, etc. Of course, if
security were all that important to them, they wouldn't rely on
Microsoft products to begin with.

[morlamweb]

Big deal? Yes. Wired Ethernet killer? No way!

I've heard this same tripe in other publications, most recently infoworld. The increased speed and range of 802.11n are good things, but not even the new standard can beat the simplicity and ubiquity of wired networks. Show me a wireless system that's as easy to use as wired Ethernet (plug in cable, go) and maybe I'll consider switching. Until then, you're gonna have to pry my Cat6 cables from my cold, dead hands.

[msimoens]

Circumvent ethernet is easy

and it's really hard to misuse wired networks? All I'd have to do is
plug in a Wi-Fi router in and then I have an access point and be
just pretty hard for an IT department to find out. And go *nix and
Mac!!!

[MEmediaCommentator]

802.11n allows multiple hi-def TV streams

This is the real advance with 802.11n -- that you can stream multiple hi-def TV signals over the bandwidth of this new standard. So you have one media server and you can get 5 hi-def streams now over wireless anywhere around the house and the capability is up to 5 more, too.

I think this will be a big deal for single media servers finally meeting the needs of all family members.

[bryan_w1]

WiFi is already a game changer

WiFi networks are already so prevalent and used in so many mission critical applications that a new technology like "n" will only increase the momentum, not necessarily "change the game". It is true that "n" will increase bandwidth and range but most large enterprises, educational institutions and healthcare organization have already started the progression of using WLAN technologies as an important portion of their networks.