Two wireless industry groups have combined forces to create multi-gigabit Wi-Fi in the emerging 60GHz band.
Paving the way for future tri-band devices, Wi-Fi Alliance and WiGig have published a single specification that will allow data speeds of up to 7Gbps for products using traditional Wi-Fi spectrum of 2.4GHz and 5GHz as well as 60GHz.
That is about ten times faster than current Wi-Fi, although the WiGig range is much shorter.
WiGig yesterday also announced its first spec for 60GHz, enabling device manufacturers to start making commercial products straight away. The 60GHz zone is reserved for very high-bandwidth applications, such as fast movie downloads.
“The WiGig specification enables high performance wireless data, display and audio applications that supplement the capabilities of today’s wireless LAN devices,” WiGig said in a statement.
WiGig’s membership includes heavyweights as Cisco, Intel, Broadcom, Panasonic and Toshiba, many of whom are also on board the rival 60GHz technology Wireless HD, which says it will offer dual-mode WirelessHD/WiGig chips, Engadget reports.
Rob Enderle, principal analyst at the Enderle Group, said that with a critical mass of industry leaders WiGig is “enabling the next generation of multi-gigabit wireless products for multiple platforms and applications.”