In choosing to define standards and frequency spectrum levels of this stands, the IEEE LAN/MAN Standards Committee chose to define a very broad public spectrum, which would allow for more efficient use of the standard for LA
and WAN deployments. The IEEE Standards Committee defined the range of 2.4GHz to 5 GHz as the public spectrum band that could be accessed and used for over-air modulation and demodulation. WiFi is the popular term used to refer to 802.11-based networks and their use at the lower ends of the public spectrum band.
The IEEE Standards committee also defined five variations of the 802.11 standard during its initial working sessions in the 1999 -- 2000 timeframe. The initial 802.11a standard was introduced in 1999, having an operating frequency of 5 GHz with a speed of 23 Mbits/second. The 802.11g standard was first introduced in 2003, and supported a 2.4 GHz operating frequency. The standards have progressed rapidly over the last ten years, with the latest protocol designed to support the frequency spectrum levels necessary for supporting large-scale LAN and WAN implementations. An example of this direction by the IEEE Standards Committee is seen in the development and launch of the 802.11n standard with supports frequency spectrum levels between 2.4 and 5 GHz and a transfer rate of 74 Mbits/second. This standard was specifically designed to support real-time messaging, video downloads and high levels of transaction-based traffic throughout LAN and WAN configurations.
The direction of the IEEE standards is to concentrate on creating higher frequency spectrum levels to support greater traffic and broader geographically-based implementations of LAN and WAN networks. Wireless standards have also progressed beyond device-level intelligence to support LAN and WAN architectural constraints and design objectives as well. This is seen in the approach to integrating broadband wireless architectures...
These architectural aspects of the 802.11 standards are also highly focused on security and authentication through IPsec and VPN technologies, which enterprises use to keep their WAN configurations secure.
Conclusion
The 802.11 standards are moving rapidly to support more architecturally based approaches to LAN and WAN network configurations, and the continual improvement in fiber optic technologies is leading to the development of long-reach networks as well (Davey, Nesset, Rafel, Payne, Hill, 13). The development of metro-area wireless WANS through the combining of fiber optics and wireless technologies is occurring much more rapidly as a result (Ichikawa, Shimizu, Akabane, Ishida, Teramoto, 1864).
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