High-Speed Wireless Communications: Ultra Wideband and IEEE802.11n

SUMMARY

This report is about high-speed wireless communications, and particular about two technologies that are being standardized: Ultra Wideband and IEEE 802.11n. They have many similar and distinguished features, and both went through a bumpy road of the standardization process. What definitely unites these technologies is their ability to transport wirelessly vast amounts of information, which before were supported only by wireline communications. They also work relatively short distances (their communications channel is restricted usually by several hundred feet). There is a lot of discussion how these technologies can coexist or fight with each other.

The report concentrates on applications of UWB and 802.11n, and shows that though there are overlapping, both technologies are necessary to fill up gaps, which exist in wireless applications. In our opinion, UWB attracts more attention due to many useful features, especially for homeland security. We are not restricting the analysis of this technology just for WLAN applications and extend them to radar and other. At the same time, developers of 802.11n devices are making them also feature-reach, closing on UWB advantages. A number of the industry analysts see this as a sign that technologies even are merging; we do not envision that will happen in the analyzed period of time -- technologies have completely different structure and compliment each other in some degree.

The goal of this report is:

• To analyze both technologies
• To analyze markets for both technologies
• Compare them, and analyze their advantages and issues
• To show where their applications may overlap and where each technology prevailing
• To analyze the industries landscape and players portfolio.

There are two major parts of this report: UWB and 802.11n. Each part contains units with the technology and market analysis.

In the technology sections, the report discusses UWB and 802.11n standards, regulatory issues, and shows differences in regional development of products. This part also researches various techniques associated with UWB and 802.11n, types of devices and their characteristics. Limitations and advantages of each type are addressed. In a separate section, we discuss UWB and 802.11n applications.

In the market sections, the report discusses UWB and 802.11n market characteristics and provides market forecasts. It also summarizes a survey of the major industry players with detailed analysis of their portfolios.

Separate section compares UWB and 802.11n.

This report also provides a Summary of the authors' findings.

Research Methodology

Considerable research was done using the Internet. Information from various Web sites was studied and analyzed; evaluation of publicly available marketing and technical publications was also conducted. Telephone conversations and interviews were held with industry analysts, technical experts and executives. In addition to these interviews and primary research, secondary sources were used to develop a more complete mosaic of the market landscape, including industry and trade publications, conferences and seminars.

The overriding objective throughout the work has been to provide valid and relevant information. This has led to a continual review and update of the information content.

Target Audience

This report provides the UWB and 802.11n technology and market analysis and assessments that are useful for service providers, vendors, network operators and managers, Enterprise IT staff, investors and end users seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the UWB and 802.11n opportunities and barriers.

For systems vendors, integrators and others, the report provides an analysis and assessment of competing UWB and 802.11n products currently available as well as an estimation of the overall opportunities in the coming years. The end users can gain a more thorough understanding of product's market and capabilities as well as the economics of using UWB to improve cost efficiency.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• 1.0 Introduction8
• 1.1 General8
• 1.2 UWB8
• 1.3 802.11n8
• 1.4 Goal9
• 1.5 Structure9
• 1.6 Research Methodology9
• 1.7Target Audience10
• Part I: UWB11
• 2.1 History11
  • 2.1.1 Brief Description12
• 3.0 Technology Specifics14
• 3.1 General14
  • 3.1.1 Obstacles15
  • 3.1.2 Benefits15
• 3.2 Definition15
  • 3.2.1 Rates16
• 3.3 Spectrum Allocation16
  • 3.3.1 Choices17
• 3.4 Major Features19
  • 3.4.1 Communications Features21
• 3.5 Standards and Regulations22
  • 3.5.1 Multiband OFDM22
  • 3.5.2 DS-UWB23
  • 3.5.3 Standards Bodies24
  • 3.5.4 Groups25
  • 3.5.5 FCC and ETSI25
  • 3.5.6 ECMA International27
  • 3.5.7 ITU and International28
  • 3.5.8 Intel Efforts28
• 4.0 Applications30
• 4.1 General30
• 4.2 Home Security31
• 4.3 Phones31
• 4.4 RFID31
• 4.5 Communications and Imaging32
  • 4.5.1 WPAN33
  • 4.5.2 Imaging systems33
  • 4.5.3 Sensor networks34
  • 4.5.4 Vehicular radar systems34
  • 4.5.5 Ranging34
• 4.6 Impacts on Public Safety35
  • 4.6.1 General35
  • 4.6.2 Five Elements of Interoperability36
  • 4.6.3 Emergency Communications: Support Features42
• 4.7 Issues43
• 5.0 Examples44
• 5.1 Transceiver (military)44
• 5.2 Ground Wave Propagation Device44
• 5.3 25 Mb/s UWB Radio45
• 5.4 Tagging Device45
• 5.5 Aircraft Intercom45
• 5.6 Ad Hoc Network46
• 5.7Positioning Systems-EUROPCOM-First Responders Gear46
• 5.8 Summary47
• 6.0 Market Estimate50
• 7.0 Industry53
  • Aether (localization devices)53
  • Alereon (chipsets)54
  • Artimi (chipsets)54
  • BBN (radio, first responders)55
  • Camero (radar, equipment for first responders)56
  • decaWave (chipsets)57
  • Focus Enhancement (chipsets)57
  • Freescale (chipsets, systems)58
  • General Atomics (chipsets)59
  • Multispectral (RFID and others)60
  • Parco (RFID)61
  • Pulse~ Link (chipsets)62
  • Staccato (chipsets)64
  • TriQuint (chipsets -- homeland security applications)65
  • Time Domain (chipsets-fusion of communications & radar)65
  • Tzero (chipsets)69
  • Ubisense (RFID-tracking)69
  • Wisair (chipsets)71
  • WiQuest (chipsets)72
  • Part II74
  • 802.11n Technology and Market74
• 8.0 Advanced Technologies: MIMO and Others74
• 8.1 General74
• 8.2 Spatial Multiplexing75
• 8.3 OFDM76
• 8.4 Directions76
• 9.0 Standard78
• 9.1 Ratification78
• 10.0 Details: Technology80
• 11.0 Benefits83
• 12.0 Market84
• 12.1 General84
• 12.2 Market Forecast84
  • 12.2.1 Model Assumptions84
  • 12.2.2 Market Forecast84
• 13.0 Industry Players87
  • Atheros87
  • Belkin88
  • Broadcom89
  • Intel91
  • Ruckus91
  • Linksys93
  • Marvell94
  • Metalink94
  • Netgear97
  • SiGe97
• 14.0 Comparison: 802.11n and UWB98
• 14.1 General99
  • 14.1.1 802.11n99
  • 14.1.2 Features Comparison99
  • 14.1.3 Major Applications100
• 14.2 802.11n and UWB Standardization101
  • 14.2.1 Similarities and Differences101
  • 14.2.2 Assessment102
• 14.3 Further Development103
  • 14.3.1 Transmit Power and Signal Bandwidth103
  • 14.3.2 The Impact of Multipath Fading on Receiver SNR Requirements104
  • 14.3.3 System Complexity and Power Consumption104
• 15.0 Conclusions106

Figures

• Figure 1: UWB Spectrum16
• Figure 2: Market Estimate: UWB Circuitry ($B)48
• Figure 3: Market Estimate: Multiband OFDM UWB Circuitry ($B)49
• Figure 4: Market Estimate: DS UWB Circuitry ($B)49
• Figure 5: Estimate of UWB Market -- Communications Applications ($B)50
• Figure 6: Basic two-antenna MIMO system with two-stream SDM example73
• Figure 7: 802.11 Protocol Family MAC Frame Structure79
• Figure 8: 802.11n IC Market Estimate ($M)83
• Figure 9: Market Estimate: 802.11n Equipment Shipping ($B)84

Tables

• Table 1: Comparison: DS-UWB and MB-OFDM24
• Table 2: FCC Emission Limits26
• Table 3: UWB Applications: Summary49
• Table 4: Comparison of different 802.11 transfer rates.80
• Table 5: Feature Comparison100