Users waiting for Wi-Fi kit faster than current 802.11a/b/g hardware had their hopes dashed when ratification of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11n standard was delayed yet again this week.

A draft specification was approved in January 2006, after arguments between the chipset manufacturers. A new draft standard was expected this autumn, but has been pushed back to early 2007 due to the large number of comments submitted.

Rolf Devegt, senior director of business development at Airgo Networks, argued that the Wi-Fi Alliance should begin 801.11n interoperability testing now to avoid even more delays. "Typically the Wi-Fi Alliance starts interoperability certification after standard ratification, but they should start certification before the standard is ratified, like they did with the 802.11i standard."

Devegt predicted that Draft 2.0 of 802.11n will be stable enough to proceed with final ratification in the first half of 2008.

The 802.11n spec should boost data transfer rates, provide better coverage and still be interoperable with the current 802.11a/b/g wireless kit. Rates over 100Mbit/s have been touted, with some tests giving over 300Mbit/s. However, recent IT Week tests of early 802.11n kit found transfer rates well below 100Mbit/s, and discovered problems with backwards compatibility and support for the latest security standards.

Analysts have advised firms not to deploy 802.11n hardware until the standard is ratified.

Devegt said, "What customers will be looking at is actual throughput rates of 100Mbit/s."