Whoosh! Goes the Internet

Wi-Fi is about to get a lot faster and more reliable

Next-generation Wi-Fi routers, using 802.11ac technology, will be able to accommodate more devices and provide better coverage in a home or office space.

By Paresh Dave, Los Angeles Times
June 22, 2013

YouTube videos stopping and starting? Spreadsheets taking an eternity to upload? Connections suddenly dropping?

Many of those Wi-Fi woes could soon come to an end.

An industry group this week began certifying products capable of running on a faster and more reliable wireless network technology. It marked the unofficial beginning of the next generation of Wi-Fi.

Contrary to popular belief, many of the connection problems that home users encounter are often not related to their broadband service but rather to the Wi-Fi routers.

The new technology — 802.11ac — has the potential to be up to four times as fast as the current standard 802.11n technology. Smartphones, computers and routers with the new technology are already hitting store shelves, though industry experts don't expect average consumers to start picking up the devices until the holiday shopping season or early next year.

(More here.)