High performance wireless LANs for future multimedia communications

A number of new high speed wireless LAN standards are now being developed around the world that will allow data rates of between 24 and 155 Mb/s to be achieved over distances up to 100 m. These radio tails are also being optimised to integrate with fixed, high speed, ATM networks. In Europe, the HIPERLAN type 1 standard has already been drafted and dedicated spectrum has been reserved. The European Commission has funded a wide range of new projects under the ACTS initiative to support the development of a number of new wireless LAN and ATM demonstrators at frequencies ranging from 5, 17, 19, 40 and 60 GHz. ETSI are continuing to develop a number of new HIPERLAN standards and through co-operation with bodies such as the Wireless ATM forum, there is hope that the HIPERLAN physical layers will also be suitable for use in the North American market. Research projects such as ACTS AWACS (which includes a Japanese partner) are also bridging the standardisation gap between Europe and Japan by disseminating results into both the European and Japanese standardisation bodies.