Future enhancements for wireless LAN include proprietary protocols, wireless metropolitan area networks (WMANs) and multibeam radios.

Proprietary protocols are set of rules, timing, and a syntax that are unique to vendors or users that can provide features or performance improvements that are not part of industry standards. Proprietary protocols may be used to gain competitive advantages or as a temporary solution to problems that take time to implement in industry standards.

Several manufacturers have already created proprietary protocols that can provide increased data transmission rates. An example of proprietary protocols includes the binding of multiple radio carrier channels to achieve higher data transmission rates. For example, by binding two 11 Mbps carriers together through the use of proprietary protocols, this provides a 22 Mbps channel. The potential disadvantages of the use of proprietary protocols include increased processing delays and incompatibility between devices that cannot use the proprietary protocols.

Wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) are wireless networks that provide data communication access throughout an urban or city geographic area. There are thousands of WMANs that are in use throughout the world and the common applications include interconnecting law-enforcement, public utility, or public safety communication services.

With the introduction of Broadband wireless access (BWA) technology, WMANs can be used to provide broadband access to public users in an urban area. This allows WMAN systems to compete with other technologies such as digital subscribe line (DSL) and cable modems.

In the early 2,000s, wide area wireless systems only could provide relatively low data transmission rates (regularly below 20 kbps) and users were often required to pay for bandwidth on a time or usage basis.

To develop a cost effective, high-speed data transmission WMAN system, the IEEE created the 802.16. The 802.16 systems is a line of sight system that operates in the 10 GHz to 66 GHz of radio spectrum. As of 2004, an amendment may allow 802.16 systems to operate in the 2 GHz to 11 GHz bands. The radio channel bandwidth is typically greater than 10 MHz and the radio access technology uses dynamically assigned burst transmission. The data transmission rates in both the uplink and downlink can reach 238 Mbps .

To assist with the development and certification of 802.16 products, the WiMax™ forum was created. You can find out more about 802.16 and WiMax certification at www.wimaxforum.org.

Wi-Max “Technical Information,”2 April, 2004.