Two things have happened on the wireless Internet front recently that promise to make wireless standards more confusing than they have been.
Whether the industry revenue moves up or down, the number of standards has always moved up. For instance, even as wireless broadband production fell sharply from $206 million in 2001 to $123 million in 2002 to $80 million in 2003 (iSuppli figures), there were no dearths of wireless standards popping up now and then to specify the interface between a wireless client and a base station, and also among wireless clients. The ever-growing alphabets such as a, b, g, etc. following IEEE 802.11 virtually finds the user lost in an alpha-numeric jungle growing with more confusion and confusing with more growth.
With the wireless industry projected to grow this year, wireless standards could not have been anything but on the upward move faster than before. I would like to comment on two standards that have come up this year. The first is 802.11i, approved in June last. This standard enhances data security. Data security is very much a part of 802.11b, commonly used today. The security feature with 802.11b is called Wired Equivalency Protocol. Under this, the data traffic between the laptop and access point is encrypted in such a way that with little technical knowledge anybody could break the encryption and eavesdrop on traffic. The problem has been known since the advent of the standard. The industry assigned the study of the problem and evolving a solution to a body called Task Group 1, formed under IEEE 802.11 Working Group. The new standard 802.11i is the result of the work of this Task Group.
Some questions arise in my mind. Weren't security features of 802.11b checked before the standard was approved? When security limitations of 802.11b came to light very early in its commercialization, wouldn't it have been better to remove these limitations before letting this standard prevail? How many Wi-Fi products incorporating 802.11b features can be upgraded to 802.11i? If 802.11i is to prevail, will equipment makers and distributors be required to write off products?
Interestingly, before IEEE approved 802.11i, another organization, Wi-Fi Forum, a consortium promoting Wi-Fi technology, adopted a standard called Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA). WPA, already available on newer Wi-Fi access points, has adopted many features of 802.11i. It is claimed that the only difference between WPA and 802.11i is the superior security feature of 802.11i, called Advanced Encryption Standard. The Wi-Fi Forum says that to emphasize the similarity between the two standards, 802.11i should be referred to as WPA2.
IEEE has recently approved yet another standard, called WiMax, which stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. This standard is for high-speed Internet connection of 75 megabits per second over longer rangeÑas long as 30 milesÑthan traditional Wi-Fi catering to about 350 feet.
WiMax will possibly push broadband Internet access into remote areas. Intel has announced that it will launch chip-supporting WiMax early next year. It remains to be seen how this launch will affect broadband service providers. I see greater competition and confusion between them. Phone companies pushing DSL, such as Verizon, and cable companies pushing modem service, such as Comcast and Time Warner, will slug it out in an increasingly confusing Wi-Fi market.
Taking into account the kind of shrubbery gathering around traditional Wi-Fi standards, I don't expect a smooth sailing for WiMax. More standards for "long range" Wi-Fi may come up, as has happened over the years for "short range" Wi-Fi. The security needs for "long-range" Wi-Fi will be far more challenging than those for the other category, providing more scope for confusion. These security needs cannot be fully comprehended till "long range" Wi-Fi comes into broad use, thus providing yet more scope for confusion. A great deal of infrastructural changes will be required to create service profitable for the provider and affordable for the customer. Nevertheless, it is a technology to watch during next year.
You can reach Kirtimaya Varma at
kirti.varma@rbi-asia.com
