Data Acquisition Web

A proposed IEEE specification for boosting IP-based data-transmission rates for mobile users in wireless metropolitan area networks (WMANs).

In some cases, this literally means mobile users - 802.20 would support people and devices sitting in trains, subways and automobiles traveling at up to 150 miles per hour.

Formally known as "The Standard Air Interface for Mobile Broadband Wireless Access Systems Supporting Vehicular Mobility - Physical and Media Access Control Layer Specification," 802.20 would support transmission speeds of up to 1M bit/sec in the 3-GHz spectrum band.

The goal is to have a data wireless network that can support real-time traffic with extremely low latency (20 milliseconds or less) optimizing IP-based data transport, target peak data rates per user at over 1 Mbit/sec, and support vehicular mobility up to 250 km/hour.

The 802.20 specification will apply to the same band of licensed spectrum that current mobile wireless networks such as AT&T Wireless and Sprint PCS operate in. Hopesly the 802.20 specification will complement rather than compete with 3G standards, which are geared to voice, rather than data.