James Delahunty
31 May 2006 19:56
Next generation WiFi technology could be used to send Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) around the home, according to WiFi chip-maker Airgo Networks. The company announced on Tuesday that Caton Overseas and STMicroelectronics will use Airgo's latest technology to distribute video through WiFi links throughout the home. Airgo is the pioneer of the Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) technology which improves WiFi's range and throughput.
MIMO is primary basis for next-generation WiFi standard 802.11n. Airgo supplies companies like Linksys with its high performance chips. The company has tweaked its MIMO technology to improve the throughput, range and reliability of the signal to make it adequate enough to transmit three high-definition TV channels. Airgo's next generation chips are called True MIMO Gen3.
Using this latest technology, transmission speeds up to 240mbps can be reached. Airgo tested the technology in a 6,000-square-foot model home, according to Dave Borison, director of marketing. Carriers are already breaking the bank rushing to upgrade their networks to offer IPTV to consumers but another problem remains; most homes today aren't equipped with Ethernet cabling. This is where WiFi comes in.
"Until now, the only way to get multiple TVs connected to an IPTV service was to use wires," Borison said. "Earlier wireless technology couldn't offer the performance to replace wires. But now it can." Borison also commented that competitor Ruckus Wireless, which is also optimizing WiFi for video delivery, is using old WiFi technology to improve performance.
Source:
News.com