IEEE 802.11g OFDM WLAN throughput performance

Abstract

Boasting higher data rate schemes matching those available with IEEE 802.11a-OFDM in the 5 GHz band and backward compatibility with 2.4 GHz 802.11b-CCK, 802.11g is gaining acceptance in the wireless local area network (WLAN) market. Despite growing interest, early adopters face numerous challenges that may impact radio throughput performance including longer slot-time duration than 802.11a, protection mechanism for b/g user coordination and fewer available channels for frequency reuse. This paper aims to take a balanced look at the advertised system benefits afforded by enhanced throughput capabilities against performance considerations that must be taken into account to successfully deploy 802.11g in Enterprise/Public Space WLANs.