Municipalities and large enterprise customers are deploying mesh networks to provide wireless broadband connections across cities or within campus environments. Today, these networks support many different types of applications, including video surveillance, meter reading and traffic control, and have demonstrated mesh networks' ability to deliver a compelling return on investment as well as enable new services.

Many current mesh network deployments are based on WiFi technology, the common term for wireless services meeting the IEEE 802.11 standards. Up to now, the best available data speeds leveraging 802.11a, -b or -g standards reach burst data rates of 54 Mbps. However, over the past year, the promise and subsequent arrival of 802.11n technology has generated a substantial amount of industry discussion and debate. Adoption of 802.11n WiFi in both the enterprise and consumer markets is quickly gaining ground, with many customers upgrading older indoor networks to meet new 'next generation' standards. These new high capacity networks promise to deliver substantial cost savings in not only infrastructure and operations, but also in end-user productivity and efficiency gains.

The use of 802.11n in outdoor network deployments has raised some interesting questions. Based on current network configurations and emerging ROI models, the potential benefits are dramatic. However, the specific capabilities of 802.11n as applied to outdoor networks differ significantly from common indoor network configurations. Network planners and operators must understand the technology enhancements 802.11n brings along with the unique environmental challenges inherent to outdoor deployments in order to leverage the full advantages of '"n" technology.

This paper will focus on the key 802.11n technology enhancements, specific product design considerations for 802.11n mesh access points, and how to maximize the benefits of 802.11n technology in outdoor networks.

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