IEEE finally signs off on 802.11r for improved roaming access. Image: Wi-Fi.
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has finally signed off on Wi-Fi standard 802.11r, which enables devices to employ wireless roaming between access points on WLAN (wireless local area) networks.
After a number of years on the developmental backburner, which stretch back to 2004, the IEEE’s official stamp of approval for 802.11r could potentially mark an increase in the adoption of VoIP (voice over Internet Protocols) as mobile devices will be able to take specific advantage of the standard’s roaming capabilities.
For example, current VoIP-enabled handset devices require approximately 100 milliseconds in order to transfer between network access points, which can prompt QoS (quality of service) and security authentication issues, reports IT PRO.
The 802.11r standard, which is also known as Fast Basic Service Set Transition, has been created to focus on removing that potential degradation of mobile service quality.
802.11r functions by establishing and addressing authentication and QoS at a new network access point before then transferring service, and all in less than 50 milliseconds, which IT PRO notes is “the maximum standard time stipulated for wireless voice roaming.”
Analyst reaction to the official arrival of 802.11r suggests that, while it brings undoubted service efficiency, it remains to be seen how quickly carriers will release fresh technology that takes full advantage of the enhanced network roaming.
More pointedly, the longstanding lack of approval for 802.11r is likely to have seen many carriers constructing networks without VoIP roaming capabilities, while others chose to hedge their bets via the likes of WEP (wired encryption privacy), which provides reduced security authentication standards.
The reason behind the protracted lack of evolution in the VoIP arena is believed to have been because the IEEE’s set of 802.11 standards was not originally created to support network roaming access.
However, seeing as 802.11r involves only network access transfer and not actual data transmission, future wireless standards should still provide much improved levels of service reliability.
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