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⁠Chapter 2. Standards

2.1. Standards and Regulatory Bodies
2.2. Standards Defined
The WLAN and radio communications industries are regulated by several different organizations. These bodies develop and implement standards and regulations that include limits on factors such as power output, antenna height, hardware compatibility, frequency allocation and usage and general spectrum management. This chapter gives an overview of these bodies and their responsibilities. Note that local regulations may exist in your area that may differ from those listed here. When deploying a WLAN, the requirements of your local regulatory domain authority should always be adhered to.

⁠2.1. Standards and Regulatory Bodies

  • ITU-R - The Radio communications sector of the International Telecommunications Union.
    The ITU-R manages worldwide spectrum management and satellite orbits and keeps the interference-free operation of communications as its primary objective. More information can be found at the ITU-R homepage: http://www.itu.int/ITU-R/index.asp.
  • Wi-Fi Alliance - A non-profit, worldwide association consisting of more than 300 member companies from more than 20 countries.
    The Wi-Fi Alliance, previously known as the Wireless Ethernet Compatibility Alliance (WECA), ensures that the actual WLAN products maintain a level of interoperability. This is done by performing a series of certification testing on products. Details about Wi-Fi Alliance certifications and programs can be found at http://www.wi-fi.org/certified_products.php.
  • IEEE - The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a global, non-profit organization, with more than 375,000 members from more than 160 countries.
    The IEEE is a professional group working towards the advancement of technology, to "foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity." In terms of this guide, the IEEE 802.11 working group within the IEEE 802 project is the main focus, although the IEEE has many other projects and standards. The 802.11 working group sets the standards for Wireless LANs. More information about the IEEE and the 802.11 working group can be found here: http://www.ieee802.org/11/.