Using an optional modulation technique within the 802.11b specification, it is possible to double the current data rate. Cisco already has 22 Mbps on the road map for the future. This pattern promises to continue, with a broader frequency band capable of supporting higher bandwidth available at 5-GHz. This generation of technology will likely carry a significant price premium when it is introduced sometime in 2001. While performance will unquestionably continue to improve, customers will continue to require a reliable partner to integrate these dynamic technologies seamlessly into the existing network.
Cisco provides the stability and network expertise to make such integration a reality.
Cisco provides the greatest level of security available today for wireless networking, offering up to 128-bit encryption and supporting both the encryption and authentication options of the 802.11 standard. The keys are used to encrypt the data before it is transmitted through the airwaves. If a station receives a packet that is not encrypted with the appropriate key, the packet will be discarded and never delivered to the host. Although the 802.11 standard provides strong encryption services to secure the WLAN, the means by which the secure keys are granted, revoked, and refreshed is undefined. Fortunately, several key administration architectures are available for use in the enterprise.