HIPERLAN HIghPErformance Radio Local Area Network
HIPERLAN is a wireless LAN standard developed by the BRAN (Broadband Radio Access Networks) division of ETSI. HIPERLAN defines a very efficient, high-speed wireless LAN technology that fully meets the requirements of Europe's spectrum regulations. Similar to IEEE 802.11a , HIPERLAN/2 operates in the 5GHz spectrum and offers data rates of up to 54Mbps. While HIPERLAN appears to offer similar performance to that of WLAN 802.11a, it is far more efficient in terms of allocating users radio resources. Unfortunately 802.11a is already available, and operation within the UK has been ratified by the RA (Radiocommunications Agency). Due to this, and the economies of scale it will initially prove a far cheaper option than HIPERLAN. To this end it is viewed that WiFi derivatives such as 802.11a, b, g and n will become the dominant technologies.
