80211standardi

80211standardi refers to the family of IEEE 802.11 standards governing wireless local area networks (WLANs). Established by the IEEE Standards Association, these specifications define the media access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) technologies that enable wireless connectivity for devices within homes, offices, and public spaces. The standards are designed to support interoperable equipment from different vendors and to evolve as data demands and spectrum availability change.

The history begins with 802.11-1997, which offered about 1–2 Mbit/s in the 2.4 GHz band. It was followed by 802.11b (11 Mbit/s) and 802.11a (54 Mbit/s in the 5 GHz band). Later, 802.11g combined 2.4 GHz compatibility with 54 Mbit/s operation, and 802.11n introduced MIMO technology, enabling higher speeds and backward compatibility across bands. The 802.11 family has continued to broaden capacity and efficiency through subsequent amendments.

Key contemporary standards include 802.11ac (Wi‑Fi 5) in the 5 GHz band with gigabit-class speeds, and 802.11ax (Wi‑Fi 6), which improves efficiency in dense environments using OFDMA and MU‑MIMO. 802.11ad and 802.11ay pursue very high speeds at 60 GHz for short-range applications, while 802.11be (Wi‑Fi 7) is in development to push further throughput and efficiency. The 6 GHz band is leveraged by 802.11ax/802.11be extensions known as Wi‑Fi 6E and beyond.

Practical considerations include operation in 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands, channel bonding, and advanced antenna techniques. The IEEE standards are complemented by the Wi‑Fi Alliance’s interoperability certifications. Security has evolved from legacy measures toward WPA2 and WPA3, aligning with ongoing protocol improvements and regulatory requirements.