Thai hotel first to deploy 802.11n in Asia

The Oriental, Bangkok has become possibly the first organization in the region--and the first hotel in the world--to offer high-speed wireless access to guests with the deployment of a 802.11n-based Wi-Fi network.

It has installed Cisco Aironet 1250 Series access points throughout the hotel to allow guests to be connect wirelessly as they move around the premise, according to a statement on Cisco's Web site.

Tatchapol Poshyanonda, managing director of Cisco Thailand, said the Cisco Aironet 1250 Series supports the 802.11n draft 2.0 specification by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and can run on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies.

The 802.11n is the latest generation of Wi-Fi technology, promising higher throughput, range and bandwidth than its predecessors--the 802.11a, 802.11b and 802.11g.

Paul Jones, manager of The Oriental, Bangkok, said that making a guest's stay comfortable and convenient included availing advanced technologies for his or her use.

"Today's business travelers demand more than simple connectivity--they value voice, video and data options which are efficient, convenient, highly secure and most importantly can be accessed anytime, anywhere in the hotel," he added.

Last November, Wi-Fi vendor Meru Networks announced a partnership with Denmark's Espergaerde High School to supply the school with 802.11n equipment. The 802.11n-based campus network was said to be the first in Europe.