Operating in the 5 GHz band, 802.11a supports a maximum theoretical data rate of 54 Mbps, but more realistically it will achieve throughput somewhere between 20 Mbps to 25 Mbps in normal traffic conditions. In a typical office environment, its maximum range is 50 meters (150 feet) at the lowest speed, but at higher speed, the range is less than 25 meters (75 feet). 802.11a has four, eight, or more channels, depending on the country. WLAN products based on 802.11a technology are rapidly coming to market in 2003, making them more affordable and widely available.

• WLAN