The US government and the wireless technology industry
have resolved a dispute that threatened to curtail the deployment
of the next generation of wireless networking and communications
technology that uses the 802.11a standard.
As part of an agreement reached on Friday, the government will
open 255MHz in the middle of the 5GHz spectrum to unlicensed use,
creating 11 additional channels on which 802.11a wireless devices
can operate, according to Rich Redelfs, chief executive officer and
president of Atheros Communications, which lobbied the government
for changes in the spectrum rules.
The dispute between the wireless industry and the government
arose over concerns voiced by the US Department of Defense that
devices using the 802.11a standard would interfere with military
radars that also use that spectrum.
The government's National Telecommunications and Information
Administration issued a statement on Friday in which it expressed
satisfaction with the deal and the compromises that were
reached.
As opposed to devices that use the 802.11b standard and transfer
data at up to 11Mbps, 802.11a devices can exchange data at faster
rates, at up to 54Mbps, but have a more limited range.
The agreement will also allow the US to present a united front
in the upcoming World Radio Conference in Geneva in June, when
representatives from different countries will meet to agree on
spectrum allowances and rules.
Without an agreement, the US might have had a tough time getting
backing for its own plan, especially because the same 255 MHz band
is already open to unlicensed use in Europe.
"We think it's a great win for the [wireless] industry," Redelfs
said. "It's a recognition of the importance of the wireless Lan
industry and it gives us room to grow. If we don't have enough
spectrum and channels, the growth of wireless could all come to a
screeching halt - like a tower of Babel."