X
Business

U.K.: Intel sidesteps WiFi holdup

A deal with the Radiocommunications Agency will allow Intel to sell its 802.11a fast wireless LAN (local area network) equipment in the United Kingdom before the end of July. An agreement between Intel and the United Kingdom's spectrum authority should see faster wireless LAN technology on sale in Britain by this summer--even before it has full European approval. Although 802.11a wireless LANs are already on sale in the United States, they were not expected to be available anywhere in Europe until the end of the year because they do not have approval from the regulator, ETSI. European approval of 802.11a is being delayed by the fact that military and satellite networks also use spectrum in the 5GHz range. Intel's agreement with the U.K. regulator, the Radiocommunications Agency, sidesteps this problem by limiting customers to undisputed parts of the 5GHz spectrum. A similar agreement will allow customers in the Netherlands to buy systems there too. To read the full story, visit http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2106341,00.html. --Peter Judge, ZDNet UK
Written by Peter Judge, Contributor
A deal with the Radiocommunications Agency will allow Intel to sell its 802.11a fast wireless LAN (local area network) equipment in the United Kingdom before the end of July. An agreement between Intel and the United Kingdom's spectrum authority should see faster wireless LAN technology on sale in Britain by this summer--even before it has full European approval.

Although 802.11a wireless LANs are already on sale in the United States, they were not expected to be available anywhere in Europe until the end of the year because they do not have approval from the regulator, ETSI. European approval of 802.11a is being delayed by the fact that military and satellite networks also use spectrum in the 5GHz range. Intel's agreement with the U.K. regulator, the Radiocommunications Agency, sidesteps this problem by limiting customers to undisputed parts of the 5GHz spectrum. A similar agreement will allow customers in the Netherlands to buy systems there too. To read the full story, visit http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2106341,00.html. --Peter Judge, ZDNet UK

Editorial standards