Fast Wi-Fi speeds on the way

Much higher Wi-Fi speeds are on the way, following a decision by the IEEE standards body to approve the 802.11n standard.

The introduction of the 802.11n technology will allow users to access the internet at up to 100mbps, against current average speeds of around 11mbps. Until now, bringing in the technology had been stalled by arguments between different suppliers over the technology’s specifications.

Such throughput speeds would make it easier for companies to take advantage of bandwidth-intensive applications like voice over IP and video streaming, using wireless networks for access.

The technology will now begin its path through the IEEE standardisation process, which will take around a year to complete. Commercial products, such as wireless cards and access points, are set to appear soon after.

The 802.11n solution already has the support of wireless chip makers Intel, Atheros and Broadcom, along with a number of other supplier companies.