Press release Mar 02, 2010

CeBIT 2010 – Next Generation WLAN N

AVM presents the first FRITZ!Box of the next WLAN 11n generation –
Industry’s first IAD to feature 3-stream 802.11n technology for higher data throughput and greater range

	New: 3x3 radio with beamforming and multiple advanced features for 450 Mbit/s
	New: 50% greater range, 66% higher effective bandwidth than 2x2 11n
	AVM collaborating with Atheros to implement cutting-edge improvements in IAD

AVM, top manufacturer of DSL devices in Europe, is presenting a FRITZBox of the next WLAN N performance generation at the CeBit. Working closely with Atheros, a leading supplier of innovative 802.11n WLAN technologies, AVM is the first company to implement this milestone 3-stream 11n WLAN development in a ADSL/VDSL integrated access device (IAD).

WLAN has become the consumer/small office interface No. 1

According to Wi-Fi Alliance, with more than 500 Mio. devices sold, Wireless LAN (WLAN) is now the most popular consumer/small office interface for the in-house connection of PCs, networking equipment, and consumer electronics to broadband. End users and operators benefit greatly from WLAN integrated in access devices for broadband applications including Internet access, Voice over IP, Video on Demand and IPTV. New performance requirements for WLAN are coming to the fore as the European residential Internet access market swiftly moves towards rates of 100 Mbps and higher following the introduction of VDSL, Docsis 3 and FTTH. 802.11n equipment enhances throughput and range with packet aggregation and MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) technology, while maintaining compatibility with legacy 802.11a/b/g devices. However, the new FRITZ!Box relies on new 11n technology from Atheros, which outperforms first-generation WLAN 11n to extend wireless coverage and boost signal robustness.

New Features in WLAN N for greater rate over range

The new 11n technology uses concurrent transmission of 3 spatial streams in combination with features of the 802.11n standard, like Low Density Parity Check (LDPC), Transmit Beamforming (TxBF), and Maximum Likelihood Demodulation (MLD). The solution provides up to 50% greater range and 66% higher throughput than 2x2 11n systems, with actual throughput of up to 300 Mbps. Key value propositions for end users include extended wireless coverage and robustness, increased data rates and throughput, and lower system power consumption. This is achieved by sustaining wireless signals, limiting coding losses, achieving better synchronization between multiple receivers, and improving demodulation between MIMO signals.

The new FRITZ!Box relies on 3 separate transmit and receive chains to process 3 spatial streams (3x3). This configuration provides a data rate of 450 Mbps at PHY rates and increases short-range net actual data throughput to up to 300 Mbit/s (an increase of 66% over 2x2 systems).

Low Density Parity Check (LDPC) is a high-performance error correcting code that guards against packet loss at every point on the link. When operating at data rates on the order of Gbit/s, the introduction of LDPC yields an increase in performance of up to 2 dB over convolutional coding. LDPC has recently been introduced in other high-bandwidth applications as well, including DVB-S2, ITU-T G.hn, and 10GBase-T Ethernet.

Transmit Beamforming (TxBF) uses feedback from a WLAN client to help the access point focus the RF signal on the client. Because TxBF enhances the link rate, the data throughput at medium range can be increased by up to 50%. New AP chip generations implement implicit and explicit TxBF options, thus providing maximum interoperability to other 11n stations. Implicit TxBF exchanges long training symbols (in the PHY layer header) to autonomously estimate the optimum settings of transmission parameters, whereas explicit TxBF mode supports STA to calculate these parameters and transfer them to the AP.

Increased data throughput at long range and absolute coverage is optimized by Maximal Ratio Combining (MRC). MRC enables the receiver to combine the MIMO signal paths optimally, aligning the time and phase of the signals received to extend link reliability. MRC is supported for both OFDM and CCK coding.

At short range, increased data throughput is provided by an optimized MIMO equalization method to boost signal strength, called Maximum Likelihood Demodulation (MLD). MLD offers greater accuracy than current implementations using Zero Forcing (ZF) MIMO equalization.

Space Time Block Coding (STBC) takes advantage of the multiple antennas, more to improve signal reliability than to increase data rates. STBC provides added robustness for devices operating in an environment with multiple reflections, and is commonly used in systems where multiple transmission chains are matched by only a single receiver chain, such as a handheld device with a single antenna talking to an Access Point (AP). STBC achieves send-side diversity by encoding information in the spatial and temporal dimensions.

For more information about the techniques used to enhance WLAN performance, please download Atheros’ whitepaper entitled “Achieving Higher Throughput and Greater Range in 802.11n Networks by Sustaining Signals for Improved Performance and Reliability” at http://www.atheros.com/pt/whitepapers/11nNetworksSustainingSignals_whitepaper.pdf.

FRITZ!Box WLAN 3370 with new WLAN 11n technology

The new FRITZ!Box 3370 is the first device of its class to rely on this newest-generation WLAN 11n silicon and radio transceiver. Proceeding from the gross data rate of 450 Mbit/s, the combined individual techniques listed above significantly increase the coverage and throughput that can be reached at all ranges with a given net transmission power. This new WLAN 11n development is the ideal technology for the in-house transmission of multiple HD videos and HD-IPTV, games and VoIP calls.

A consistent focus during development was placed on energy efficiency (Green AP). The FRITZ!Box 3370 is equipped with a combined VDSL and ADSL modem, providing for Internet connections with speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s. Computers and other network devices also can be connected with each other and with the Internet via four gigabit Ethernet ports. Two USB 2.0 ports for printers, network storage (NAS) or UMTS mobile broadband are also included. Market launch is planned for the third quarter of 2010.