IEEE ratifies 802.11n wireless LAN standard

Around six years after it was presented, the 802.11n wireless LAN standard has been finally ratified by the Institute of Electrcial and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).

With the ratification, wireless router buyers can rest assured of 802.11n kits being compatible with future equipment based on the standard. The standard provides for support for multiple antennae in routers and is theoretically capable of speeds up to 300 Mbps.

However, the standard being already in use, this official rubber stamping will mean little beyond hardware manufacturers being finally able to remove the words 'pre' or 'draft' from their packaging.

Controversial 'Draft-N' labels can now be phased out and the industry can look forward for a real standard. The proprietary technologies that have been competing with each other so far will finally be on their way out.

The standard has been presented exactly seven years after it was first conceptualised.

Reports of the ratification were received after a blog post featured an email sent by Bruce Kraemer, the chairman of the 802.11n standard Task Group to members of the group.