Broadcom backs 60GHz ultra broadband networking group

Stuart Corner
Friday, 29 August 2008 09:48

Business IT - Technology

The group aims to enhance the current WHDI technology to enable wireless streaming of uncompressed HD video and audio between devices such as LCD and plasma HDTVs, multimedia projectors, A/V receivers, DVD and Blu-Ray disc players, set-top boxes, game consoles, and PCs. And also hoping for a significant slice of this nascent market is an Australian technology: the 60GHz short range wireless technology developed by NICTA.

Meanwhile, WirelessHD says it intends to support the interests of "complementary standardisation efforts to develop new solutions for consumers and business interests, in particular work being undertaken within the IEEE.

IEEE 802.15.3c is working on wireless personal area networking (WPAN) for high speed applications at short range and WirelessHD says it has worked collaboratively to employ common architecture, channelisation and bandwidth sharing techniques, but that its worked "extends well beyond 802.15.3c's communications focus, attempting to deliver on the 'whole solution' by offering application layer, rights management and network device control functionality above the IEEE standard."

Also the IEEE's 802.11 'WiFi' group has formed a 60GHz effort called 802.11VHT (very high throughput). Its goal is to allow a corporate or home user to roam from high throughput dense cells to wider area networks in a seamless manner. The WirelessHD Consortium says it is working to achieve harmonised usage of the 60GHz frequency band with this new group.