The World Wide Spectrum Efficiency (WWiSE) consortium, a group of 12 companies which developed a complete proposal for the IEEE 802.11 Task Group N (TGn), today announced a merger of technical proposals with Motorola.

EE Times reports Motorola will now work as part of the WWiSE consortium and killed off their own 802.11n proposal. Companies supporting the WWiSE proposal include Airgo Networks, Broadcom, Conexant, ETRI, Motorola, Realtek, STMicroelectronics, Texas Instruments and others.

So now there are two standards competing for 802.11n - WWiSE and TGn Sync, which is backed by Intel, Sony, Qualcomm and other large electronic companies.

It should be quite a battle. The IEEE TGn task group is trying to formulate a next-generation Wi-Fi standard capable of sustaining data throughput in excess of 100Mbps. The IEEE members will vote on an 802.11.n standard at their next meeting on March 14 in Atlanta, GA. Motorola is capable of calling in a lot of favors (and votes). The WWiSE proposal is going head-to-head with TGn Sync. Fur may fly.

The updated WWiSE proposal will continue to build on the existing 20MHz channel format. This approach ensures support for the existing worldwide installed base, say WWiSE supporters, and improves the performance of Wi-Fi networks within the designated RF spectrum. Motorola’s contributions to the revised WWiSE proposal are said to enhance the pre-existing specification by improving range, reach and robustness for the various operating modes.

Key features of the combined WWiSE proposal include:

• Mandatory use of the approved, pre-existing, worldwide 20MHz Wi-Fi channel width, assuring immediate applicability and deployment in all regulatory jurisdictions.
• Enhanced MIMO technology that enables a maximum data rate of 135 Mbps in the minimum mandatory 2×2 configuration and a single 20MHz channel to keep implementation costs low, while greatly improving upon simple antenna additions or channel bonding schemes.
• Mandatory modes affording backwards compatibility and interoperability with existing Wi-Fi devices in the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz bands to ensure strong support of legacy deployments.
• Enhancements that improve robustness and range for all modes of operations and data rates.
• Modes of operation specifically intended for mobile, battery-powered applications and devices such as handsets and cell phones.
• Advanced forward-error-correction coding option to facilitate maximum coverage and range, applicable in all MIMO configurations and channel bandwidths.
• Rates up to 540 Mbps, accomplished with a 4×4 MIMO structure and optional 40MHz channel width (where permissible by regulatory bodies), provide a clear and extensible roadmap for future devices and applications.
• Provisions for advanced features that improve data rate and range such as beam-forming and closed loop methods.

One proposal could be selected as the baseline for the new standard at the March IEEE meeting (although it may be unlikely). The WWiSE group says more companies are soon expected to join the effort and help support its acceptance at upcoming meetings.

WWiSE has recently updated its Intellectual Property and remains fully consistent with IEEE requirements known as RAND (Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory). WWiSE companies will offer their essential IP under RAND terms, the basic requirement for anyone wishing to participate in IEEE standards setting processes.

Qualcomm, one of the four holdouts for an 802.11n proposal has joined Intel, Nokia, Sony, Samsung, and others, announcing their membership in the TGn Sync club and dropping their own standard. TGn Sync is comprised of 20 industry-leading companies across the cellular, computing, consumer electronics, enterprise networking, mobile radio, public access and semiconductor markets. Now forth-ranked Motorola has joined the competing WWiSE proposal bringing the red and blue states close to a 50/50 parity (or is that parody).

Multiple-In, Multiple-Out (MIMO) smart antenna technology, part of the 802.11n standard, will make streaming media and voice-over-WLAN more practical.

The Nsync boys would use two MIMO antennas, in combination with 40 MHz channels, to create a device that will provide 250 Mbit/s of bandwidth and a theoretical 175 Mbit/s of usable throughput. They claim that “beamforming” TGn has cost and power advantages, important in portable gear.

Members of the WWiSE coalition say this would reduce the number of available non-overlapping 802.11 channels and be illegal in some countries, for instance, Japan. Instead, it has proposed technology that uses four MIMO antennas, while sticking with the 20 MHz channels currently specified by 802.11.

Everybody wants to be The One.

DailyWireless has more on recent MIMO WiFi systems.

Posted by Sam Churchill on Thursday, February 24th, 2005 at 12:42 am.