What is WiGig ?

The advent of high-definition TV and other multimedia digital goodies is a double-edged sword. Consumers have more digital entertainment options than ever before, but at the expense of ever-increasing data transfer demands. Although wireless LAN technologies suffice for many applications, like Internet surfing, WiFi doesn't cut it for many HDTV or video streaming activities. Thus, most homeowners and businesses resort to wired networks, which results in a tangled mass of expensive cables.

 

In May 2009, a newly formed group called the Wireless Gigabit Alliance announced its intentions to create a new high-speed wireless standard called WiGig, operating over the unlicensed 60 GHz frequency band.

The WiGig specification will allow devices to communicate without wires at multi-gigabit speeds. It enables high performance wireless data, display and audio applications that supplement the capabilities of today’s wireless LAN devices. WiGig tri-band enabled devices, which operate in the 2.4, 5 and 60 GHz bands, will deliver data transfer rates up to 7 Gbit/s, about seven times faster than 802.11ac, and ten times faster than the highest 802.11n rate, while maintaining compatibility with existing Wi-Fi devices.

 

On November 3, 2010, WiGig Alliance announced the feature complete WiGig version 1.0 A/V and I/O protocol adaptation layer (PAL) specifications. The application specifications have been developed to support specific system interfaces including extensions for PC peripherals and display interfaces for HDTVs, monitors and projectors.

 

WiGig Display Extension

Supports wireless transmission of audio/visual data

 

Enables wireless Display Port and other display interfaces that include the High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection 2.0 feature.

 

Offers key A/V applications, such as the transmission of lightly compressed or uncompressed video from a computer or digital camera to an HDTV, monitor or projector

 

WiGig Bus Extension and WiGig Serial Extension.

 

Define high-performance wireless implementations of widely used computer interfaces over 60 GHz

 

Enable multi-gigabit wireless connectivity between any two devices, such as connection to storage and other high-speed peripheral