IEEE has announced the approval of the new IEEE 802.11aj standard. This is an amendment to IEEE 802.11 that specifies the Physical (PHY) layer and the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer in the 60 GHz and 45 GHz bands to meet growing high-speed wireless LAN capacity demands in China. The standard amendment specifies four 1.08 GHz channels in the 60 GHz band to support low power devices with high data rates and larger coverage areas, and provides access to 5 GHz of new bandwidth in the 45 GHz band with up to a 15 Gb/s data rate. This expands the capabilities of IEEE 802.11, which forms the basis of Wi-Fi® networking devices.
IEEE 802.11aj enables features in wireless products that leverage spectrum uniquely available in China. What’s more, it demonstrates the global scope of the IEEE-SA in coordinating standards development projects in response to local standards requirements and opportunities worldwide.
In China’s densely populated cities, and with the ubiquitous use of mobile devices, IEEE 802.11aj provides a robust solution to mitigate device interference, lowering instantaneous power requirements and increasing coverage, especially for small form-factor, battery-powered devices with small antennas.
Additionally, the standard amendment includes enhanced MAC mechanisms for better network performance and backward compatibility with IEEE 802.11ad™ standard, now incorporated in IEEE 802.11-2016. IEEE 802.11aj also integrates multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) technology for higher network capacity, enabling operation in up to 5 GHz of license-exempt bandwidth allocated in China’s 45 GHz band.
The introduction of IEEE 802.11aj culminates a 5-year collaborative effort to develop enhancements accommodating the Chinese regulatory requirements in the 60 GHz and 45 GHz bands. This amendment, including the incorporating of MIMO technology for higher network capacity, will provide wireless operators greatly enhanced network performance and an end-user experience that maintains the reliable, high-quality wireless connectivity associated with IEEE 802.11 network operations.
