The networking market in the country is set to hot up with 802.11 n technology products but major deployments are expected to take place only in 2009, say experts.
The 802.11 n technology, when deployed via an access point, enables multiple users to access the internet at a speed of 300 Mbps unlike the current 802.11 a/b/g technology that can support bandwidth of up to 54 Mbps only to a few users.
Major networking firms like Cisco, Aruba Networks and Meru Networks as well vendors like D-link, NETGEAR and linksys are all set to provide this technology.
However, the 802.11 n technology is not yet standardised by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ? the world?s leading professional association for the advancement of technology. The standardisation process is expected by 2009 and will finalise the software, integration and other complex upgradations, after which the technology will be rolled out.
Nareshchandra Singh, principal research analyst, Gartner, said, ?The non-standardisation of the n technology is in itself a hurdle for the technology to be adapted by enterprises. What also matters is the architecture of the place, signal coverage, basic location of the access point and scale of use of the technology.?
Besides this high pricing, which is almost three times higher than 11 g prices, and power needed to drive this equipment that is called ?power over Ethernet? are other major issues with the technology.
However, networking firms like Cisco are quite confident of the product. Paramjit Puri, business development manager, advanced technologies, Cisco India (SAARC region) said, ?We are speaking to about 3-4 enterprise customers at the moment and deployment of n technology is happening. Also, we can expect pricing to come down in a year?s time.? He added that all laptops shipped after January this year will have in-built 11n card facility though the technology can also be deployed with a/b/g cards.