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By Rob Garretson
The industry group developing a hyper-high-speed wireless data technology up to 10 times faster than the latest Wi-Fi networks has published its initial specification and announced an interoperability alliance with the Wi-Fi group, while Cisco signed on as its newest backer.
The Wireless Gigabit Alliance has been developing the “WiGig” spec that uses unlicensed spectrum around 60GHz and promises data transmission at speeds up to 7Gbps over relatively short distances of about 10 meters. Designed primarily to deliver data such as high-definition video streams among devices in a room-sized network, the WiGig spec called for tri-band equipment that can switch between 60GHz and the 2.5GHz and 5GHz frequency bands used by current Wi-Fi equipment. The newly published spec, along with the cooperative agreement with the Wi-Fi Alliance announced Monday, is intended to ensure that WiGig devices will be backwardly compatible with current, if not all, generations of Wi-Fi gear.
“Cisco sees 60 GHz technology as an important option in the evolution of wireless LANs in the enterprise, small business and home,” said Bob Friday, director of strategic initiatives for Cisco’s wireless business unit, in a statement. “The wireless arena is certainly one in which Cisco can contribute greatly, especially as networks and information access become increasingly borderless by nature.”
Cisco has joined the WiGig Alliance Board of Directors along with Harman International, Peraso Technologies and Samsung Electro-Mechanics, which joined WiGig as contributing members.
The group already included major players in the wireless and networking industries, notably Intel, Broadcom and Atheros Communications. The addition of Cisco will add clout to the effort to create a common standard for the 60GHz frequency band, which is also being eyed by consumer electronics companies developing a standard, known as Wireless HD, for transmitting digital high-definition video to televisions and other home electronics.
By easing and speeding interoperability with the ubiquitous Wi-Fi standard, WiGig’s partnership with the Wi-Fi Alliance could provide a leg up on the emerging Wireless HD standard, which claims peak speeds of up to 28Gbps. Both standards can coexist on the 60GHz frequency band, but interference and bandwidth management overhead could hinder performance of both. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group is also reportedly eying the 60GHz frequency band to boost the speed and capacity of its next generation.
“WiGig can now provide the world’s leading innovators with a license to develop next-generation wireless products under royalty-free terms,” said Ali Sadri, WiGig Alliance president and chairman. “Now that our specification is complete and published, it’s time to set our sights on driving a great user experience through interoperability and certification,” he added in a separate statement on the partnership with Wi-Fi Alliance.
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