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Siemens solves power-over-Ethernet challenge for 802.11n deployments
January 22, 2008
STOCKHOLM -- As more enterprises embrace mobility, they are faced with an increasing need for cost-effective, higher-performance wireless LANs (WLANs). While 802.11n delivers the higher speed and improved range they want, the cost and complexity of enabling an existing network to handle 802.11n has held many enterprises back. The new HiPath® Wireless 802.11n solution from Siemens Enterprise Communications is the first 802.11n solution to offer innovative architecture and power consumption capabilities to make the migration to fully functional, faster, more reliable 802.11n networks easier and more cost-effective. This secure wireless solution is a key part of Siemens’ open communications portfolio.
802.11n offers substantial benefits over previous wireless standards, with speeds up to five times faster than traditional WLANs, greater range and improved reliability to support high-performance mobile applications, such as HD video, high-resolution imaging and voice over wireless LAN (VoWLAN). However, with these benefits has come the considerable challenge of integrating the access points into an existing network, since additional power is required for dual-band 3x3 radios (those functioning in both the 2.4 and 5GHz bands) to work at optimum performance levels.
HiPath Wireless is the first solution to provide full dual-band 3x3 MIMO and 802.11n functionality that complies with the 802.3af Power-over Ethernet (PoE) standard, so enterprises can enjoy the highest performance without additional costs. Most enterprise WLANs rely on 802.3af switches, but the six radios used by 802.11n access points tend to draw more power than these switches can provide over a single connection. Some existing 802.11n solutions use a reduced number of radios or frequency bands, or force customers to simultaneously upgrade to higher-wattage, proprietary non-standard PoE switching infrastructure, resulting in significantly reduced performance and more complex and costly deployments.
“Enterprises are excited about 802.11n and the potential for new, high-performance wireless applications. But so far they have been hesitant to embrace the new technology out of concern that it will require significant changes to their existing network,” said Paul DeBeasi, senior analyst for Burton Group. “Siemens’ dual-band, 3x3 MIMO Access Points enable enterprises to deploy an 802.11n network using their existing 802.3af-compliant infrastructure.”
Siemens AG (NYSE: SI; Frankfurt: SIE)
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