Intel looking for peaceful Wi-Fi co-existence

Intel's Spectrum Sensing technology demonstrated a 30 per cent increase in network speeds in early tests

Intel researchers have come up with a way to limit network performance degradation in wireless networks from interference caused by devices such as microwave ovens.

The Spectrum Sensing technology demonstrated a 30 per cent increase in network speeds in early tests.

Intel demonstrated the technology for the first time at an open house for its research division at Intel's corporate headquarters.

Both the 802.11 b and g Wi-Fi standards transmit on the 2.4GHz band, which is shared with an array of devices including microwave ovens, cordless phones and baby monitors.

A baby monitor can prompt a Wi-Fi radio to slow down its transmission speed or shut down altogether because a computer interprets the interference as another device trying to transmit data on the same channel.

"The computer today is being polite," said Mathew Eszenyi, a senior technical marketing engineer at Intel. "As people connect more devices to the network, we will have to start addressing this."

Intel's technology allows a Wi-Fi radio to identify microwave interference and boost its signal, essentially "shouting louder" to overcome the background noise.

The project is a research effort for now and Intel has no concrete plans to submit the technology to standards bodies, according to Eszenyi.