Faster, Better Wi-Fi AC Being Introduced By Broadcom (And Some Interesting WiFi Tidbits)

All of us are eternally grateful for Wi-Fi. It has enabled us to get off the computer desk with its pesky RJ-45 Cables and move about while remaining connected to a network. Wi-Fi has evolved over the years, from 802.11 a to b to g to the latest n, and now we have the newest version of Wi-Fi being launched: 802.11 ac.

Also known as 5th Generation Wi-Fi or 5G Wi-Fi, it is said to offer Consumers the World’s Fastest, Most Reliable Wireless Coverage for HD-Quality Video and Near Instantaneous Data Sync.

Pioneered by Connectivity and Chipset giant Broadcom, 5G Wi-Fi will be showcased at next weeks Consumer Electronics Show or CES. Here is what some people have to say about it:

S.Y. Shian, Corporate Vice President & General Manager of NB BU,ASUS

“Asus prides itself in leading the market with product innovations. 802.11ac offers disruptive technology benefits that Asus plans to use in its PC, tablet and router lines.”

Mark Hung, Research Director, Wireless, Gartner Research

“Wi-Fi-enabled devices will grow from less than 1 billion units in 2010 to more than 3 billion in 2015[1]. Given the current constraints of legacy 802.11 standards and the increased speed, capacity, coverage and battery life that 802.11ac offers, this next generation of Wi-Fi is poised for rapid growth across all product segments. 802.11ac will be one of the most influential mobile and wireless technologies in the years to come.”

Specs aside, here is what we feel will be most interesting for the average consumer:

• Your Wi-Fi Router and your Microwave use the exact same technology.
• 5G WiFi or Wi-Fi AC is as fast as USB 2.0 when it comes to File Transfers. This means that soon your clunky pen-drive will be redundant if you can wirelessly send files at the same speed with Wi-Fi AC.
• With 40% of the TV’s sold in USA having Wi-Fi, and gaming consoles like the Wii U and XBox 360 having WiFi chips, it is used everywhere.
• WiFi AC solves the annoying problem of ‘dead spots’ around the house.
• WiFi AC ensures you get a decent speed on your connection even if you are in an area where the WiFi range is extremely low.
• The amount of area covered by WiFi Hotspots on Earth is more than that of the Pacific Ocean!
• Supports older versions of WiFI like b g and n.

What does Wi-Fi AC mean for the Mobile Phone market?

Well, since transfer speeds are much faster, the amount of time your phone’s WiFi Radio will be in Active State will be much less compared to an older version of WiFi. This means your battery life can improve.

Also, with the Video Explosion, we will be able to stream uncompressed 720p and compressed 1080p over WiFi AC and make the Home Media Sharing experience much smoother.

Another reason that WiFi AC is important is that as the world makes the switch from 3G to 4G LTE Networks, we find ourselves in an odd situation. The current WiFi N is about the same speed as 3G. But as 4G comes along, WiFi N will be too slow to fully utilize it. Hence WiFi AC is needed to keep up with 4G, for applications like MiFi Routers and Streaming.

We can expect WiFi AC to start cropping up in products throughout 2012 and can hope for it to attain critical mass in 2013.

Follow us on Facebook:

Author Description

Aatif Sumar

An Android Junkie, former Reset Generation boss and DIY aficionado. Aatif Sumar chimes in with editorials, guides and the occasional review. You can follow him on Google Plus or on twitter below. Follow @aatifsumar

CONTACT THE AUTHOR: