November 20, 2001
Wi-LAN Inc. (TSE:WIN.), a global innovator of wireless data/Internet communications, supports the vote of IEEE's Task Group G to accept a proposal for a new wireless local area network (LAN) standard (IEEE 802.11g) based on OFDM technology that will allow data rates up to 54 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz frequency band.
The current wireless LAN standard, IEEE 802.11b has a maximum data rate of 11 Mbps. This standard will support communication needs for the home multimedia market, thereby playing a key role in the lucrative consumer marketplace.
On June 5, 2001, Wi-LAN achieved tremendous success by receiving official certification for its patented W-OFDM technology from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the U.S. regulatory body responsible for telecommunications. This certification officially authorized the sale of Wi-LAN's W-OFDM product for use in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz frequency band, opening the door for two-way high-speed OFDM products in the 2.4 GHz band, thereby paving the way for this IEEE 802.11g standard.
To facilitate the initial proposal of broadband OFDM for the 802.11g, Wi-LAN filed an intellectual property (IP) statement with the IEEE, offering to make its patented Wide-band Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (W-OFDM) technology (US patent number 5,282,222 and Canadian patent number 2,064,975) available for licensing on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.
"We are pleased that our hard work with W-OFDM technology and FCC certification in the 2.4 GHz played such a key role in advancing the industry," said Dr. Hatim Zaghloul, chairman, CEO and president, Wi-LAN Inc. "The proposed IEEE 802.11g standard enables many new wireless home multimedia applications and we intend to assist in facilitating its implementation."
Wi-LAN has offered to license its patent to all parties interested in implementing IEEE 802.11g. The company expects to license its technology to a variety of interested parties, including chipmakers and equipment manufacturers. Wi-LAN will continue to abide by the terms of its intellectual property letters filed with the IEEE and ETSI.
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