• OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) defines the technology that divides a frequency band into multiple segments and then modulates each individual frequency segment with a different code, thus able to get more capacity out of the same spectrum.

• These OFDM chips are being used to create wireless LANs that run at higher speed as compared to 802.11b - 54 to 72 Mbps instead of 11 or 22 Mbps.

• These faster IEEE 802.11a wireless LANs will operate in 5 to 6 GHz unlicensed band as compared to 2 to 2.4 GHz ISM band for existing wireless LANS where they compete with  microwave ovens, 2.4-GHz cordless phones, and other technologies such as Bluetooth and HomeRF.  

• Some technology planners are conceptualizing metro area wireless networks and 4G wireless networks based on this technology.

• OFDM Chips started production in 3Qtr 2001 - Atheros was among the first vendors to do this. 

• Lower power consumption than 802.11 2.4 GHz chips

More OFDM Resources

• OFDM Forum - industry group promoting OFDM

• W-OFDM White Paper from Wi-LAN 

• Atheros - among the first vendors to produce chips and SDK 

• Intersil