802.11

Quick Guide to IEEE 802.11 Activities

Types of IEEE 802.11 activities

Activity Tag Description

Working Group

WG

The Working Group is comprised of all of the Standing Committees, Task Groups, Study Groups, and Ad-Hoc Groups.

Membership is at the WG level. All WG members may participate in any of these sub-groups.

Task Group

TG

The committee(s) that are tasked by the WG as the author(s) of the Standard or subsequent Amendments via an approved PAR

Study Group

SG

A committee responsible for researching a possible future amendment.  The output of the SG is usually a project authorization request (PAR).    

Study groups are authorized by the IEEE 802 executive committee (EC) and are expected to have a relatively short lifetime (~6 months). 

The SG terminates when it has submitted a PAR,  or failed to gain approval for a PAR,  or when the IEEE 802 EC declines to approve an SG extension.

Topic Interest Group TIG A committee that gathers together interested members to work together on a specific topic.
This might be used before a study group to determine technical feasibility and initial requirements before deciding to request a study group. The TIG is formed by WG motion and dissolved by the WG chair. It typically lasts 6 months.

Standing Committee

SC

A committee with a determined role/task, that does not modify the IEEE 802.11 standard. These committees are created by the 802.11 chair and are relatively long-lived.

Ad-hoc Committee

AHC

A committee with a determined role/task, that does not modify the IEEE 802.11 standard. These committees are created by the 802.11 chair and are relatively short-lived.

Active Task Groups

Name Tag Description Status
Task Group me TGme P802.11 Revision me - maintenance actions and roll-in of approved amendments Approved February 2021
Task Group be TGbe Extremely High Throughput Approved March 2019
Task Group bf TGbf WLAN Sensing Approved September 2020
Task Group bh TGbh Randomized MAC Addresses (RCM) Approved February 2021
Task Group bi TGbi Enhanced Data Privacy (EDP) Approved February 2021
Task Group bk TGbk 320 MHz Positioning Approved November 2022
Task Group bn TGbn Ultra High Reliability Approved February 2024
Task Group bp TGbp Ambient Power IoT Devices Approved March 2024
For details of Task Group reflectors see here.

Standing Committees (SC) and Ad-hoc committees (AHC)

Name Tag Description
Wireless Next Generation WNG SC To provide an opportunity for all new or updated ideas to be presented for immediate 802.11 peer review. This committee acts as a clearing house for the wireless next generation of features to the plus refinements to the existing 802.11 Standard
Architecture ARC SC

The Architecture SC engages senior members of 802.11 to discover, analyze, codify and promote a common understanding of 802.11 architecture; provides an interface point for architectural topics from other 802 groups; and advises the WG Chair re architecture interactions between 802.11 task groups.

Coexistence Coex SC The Coexistence SC was formed from the PDED Ad-hoc on 2017-05-12.
The scope is:
  • Discuss the use of packet detect (PD), energy detect (ED) or other coexistence mechanisms with the goal of promoting “fair access” to unlicensed spectrum for all technologies including IEEE 802.11
  • Promote an environment that enables IEEE 802.11ax to have “fair access” to global unlicensed spectrum in the 5 GHz band

Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning AIML SC The Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AIML) standing committee explores the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in IEEE 802.11 systems and devices.
Editors Editors SC The editors SC is formed from the technical editors of the WG and its subgroups. It meets during 802.11 sessions to address editorial topics, such as style, consistency, numbering, publication processes tools. It generally meets on Tuesday at 07:00 during a session. These meetings are open to all interested parties.

Study Groups and Topic Interest Groups

Name Tag Description
None at present

Inactive Task groups

Name Tag Description Status
MAC Task Group MAC

The scope of the project is to develop one common MAC for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) applications, in-conjunction with the PHY Task Group work

Work has been completed on the ISO / IEC version of the original Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11, 1999 (ISO/IEC 8802-11: 1999)

PHY Task Group PHY

The scope of the project is to develop three PHY's for Wireless Local Area Networks (WLANs) applications, using Infrared (IR), 2.4 GHz Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), and 2.4 GHz Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS), in-conjunction with the one common MAC Task Group work

Work has been completed on the ISO / IEC version of the original Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11, 1999 (ISO/IEC 8802-11: 1999)

Task Group a TGa

The scope of the project is to develop a PHY to operate in the UNII band.

Work has been completed on the ISO / IEC version of the original Standard as an amendment - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11a-1999 (ISO/IEC 8802-11: 1999 (E)/Amd 1: 2000 (ISO/IEC) and is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2007

Task Group b TGb

The scope of the project is to develop a standard for a higher rate PHY in the 2.4GHz band

Work has been completed and is now part of the Standard as an amendment - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11b-1999

Task Group b-Cor1 TGb-Cor1

The scope of this project is to correct deficiencies in the MIB definition of 802.11b

Work has been completed and is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2007

Task Group c TGc

This amendment adds a subclause under 2.5 Support of the Internal Sub-Layer Service by specific MAC Procedures to cover bridge operation with IEEE 802.11 MAC. This supplement to ISO/IEC 10038 (IEEE 802.1D) will be developed by the 802.11 Working Group in cooperation with the IEEE 802.1 Working Group.

Work has been completed and is now part of the ISO/IEC 10038 (IEEE 802.1D) Standard and part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2007

Task Group d TGd

This amendment defines the physical layer requirements (channelization, hopping patterns), new values for current MIB attributes, and other requirements to extend the operation of 802.11 WLANs to new regulatory domains (countries)

Work has been completed and is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2007

Task Group e TGe

This amendment enhances the 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC) to improve and manage Quality of Service.

Work has been completed and is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2007

Task Group F

TGF

This is a recommended practice for an Inter-Access Point Protocol (IAPP) which provides the necessary capabilities to achieve multi-vendor Access Point interoperability across a Distribution System supporting IEEE P802.11 Wireless LAN Links.

Work has completed and was Published as IEEE Std. 802.11F-2003, which was withdrawn as of February 2006.

Task Group g

TGg

This amendment provides a higher speed(s) PHY extension to the 802.11b standard.

Work has been completed and is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2007

Task Group h

TGh

This amendment enhances the 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC) standard and 802.11a High Speed Physical Layer (PHY) in the 5GHz Band supplement to the standard; adds indoor and outdoor channel selection for 5GHz license exempt bands in Europe; and enhances channel energy measurement and reporting mechanisms to improve spectrum and transmit power management (per CEPT and subsequent EU committee or body ruling incorporating CEPT Recommendation ERC 99/23)

Work has been completed and is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2007

Task Group i

TGi

This amendment enhances the 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC) to enhance security and authentication mechanisms

Work has been completed and is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2007

Task Group j

TGj

This amendment enhances the 802.11 standard to add channel selection for 4.9 GHz and 5 GHz in Japan to additionally conform to the Japanese rules for radio operation

Work has been completed and is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2007

Task Group k

TGk

This amendment defines Radio Resource Measurement enhancements to provide interfaces to higher layers for radio and network measurements

Completed with the publication of IEEE Std 802.11k-2008.

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2012.

Task Group m

TGm

This group provides maintenance of the IEEE 802.11 standard by rolling published amendments into revisions of the 802.11 standard.

Note that Mentor and Email reflectors refer to "TGm".  References in WG official documentation to "TGmc" or "REVmc" are synonyms for TGm.


Std 802.11-2012 published March 2012.

Std 802.11-2016 published Dec 2016.

Task Group n

TGn

This amendment provides improvements to the 802.11 standard to provide high throughput (>100Mbps)

Published as IEEE Std 802.11n-2009

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2012.

Task Group p

TGp

This amendment supports communication between vehicles and the roadside and between vehicles while operating at speeds up to a minimum of 200 km/h for communication ranges up to 1000 meters. The amendment supports communications in the 5 GHz bands; specifically 5.850-5.925 GHz band within North America with the aim to enhance the mobility and safety of all forms of surface transportation, including rail and marine.

Published as IEEE Std 802.11p-2010

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2012.

Task Group r

TGr

This amendment provides enhancements to the 802.11 Medium Access Control (MAC) layer to minimize or eliminate the amount of time data connectivity between the Station (STA) and the Distribution System (DS) is absent during a Basic Service Set (BSS) transition, limited to the state necessary for the operation of the MAC.

Completed with the publication of IEEE Std 802.11r-2008

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2012.

Task Group s TGs This amendment provides a protocol for auto-configuring paths between APs over self-configuring multi-hop topologies in a WDS to support both broadcast/multicast and unicast traffic in an ESS Mesh using the four-address frame format or an extension. Completed with the publication of IEEE Std 802.11s-2011
The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2012.

Task Group T

TGT

This recommended practice was intended to provide a set of performance metrics, measurement methodologies, and test conditions to enable measuring and predicting the performance of 802.11 WLAN devices and networks at the component and application level as a recommended practice.

Work abandoned without achieving WG approval of a draft.

Task Group u

TGu

This amendment to the IEEE 802.11 MAC and PHY supports InterWorking with External Networks.

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11u-2011

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2012.

Task Group v

TGv

This amendment provides Wireless Network Management enhancements to the 802.11 MAC, and PHY, and extends prior work in radio measurement to effect a complete and coherent upper layer interface for managing 802.11 devices in wireless networks.

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11v-2011

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2012.

Task Group w

TGw

The amendment enhances the IEEE 802.11 Medium Access Control layer to provide, mechanisms that enable data integrity, data origin authenticity, replay protection, and data confidentiality for selected IEEE 802.11 management frames.

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11w-2009

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2012.

Task Group y

TGy

This amendment supports use of 802.11 based systems in the 3650-3700 MHz band in the USA (FCC 05-56).

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11y-2008

Task Group z

TGz

This amendment defines a Tunneled Direct Link Setup (TDLS) mechanism to allow operation without access point support for this feature and allow stations with an active TDLS session to enter power save mode.

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11z-2010

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2012.

Task Group aa

TGaa

This amendment specifies enhancements to the 802.11 MAC (Medium Access Control) for robust audio video streaming, while maintaining co-existence with other types of traffic.

It also supports interworking with relevant 802.1AVB mechanisms (802.1Qat, 802.1Qav, 802.1AS)

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11aa-2012


The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2016.

Task Group ac

TGac

This amendment specifies enhancements to the 802.11 MAC and PHY to support very high throughput (500-1000 Mbps) in the 5 GHz bands.

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11ac-2013

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2016.

Task Group ad

TGad

This amendment defines standardized modifications to both the 802.11 physical layers (PHY) and the 802.11 Medium Access Control Layer (MAC) to enable operation in the 60 GHz frequency band (typically 57-66 GHz) capable of very high throughput (>= 1Gbps). It also enables fast session transfer between 802.11 PHYs . 

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11ad-2012

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2016.

Task Group ae

TGae

This amendment defines mechanisms for prioritizing IEEE 802.11 management frames using existing mechanisms for medium access.

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11ae-2012

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2016.

Task Group af

TGaf

An amendment that defines modifications to both the 802.11 physical layers (PHY) and the 802.11 Medium Access Control Layer (MAC), to meet the legal requirements for channel access and coexistence in the TV White Space.

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11af-2013

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2016.

Task Group ah

TGah

An amendment that defines operation in Sub 1 GHz frequencies.   Supports applications that benefit from range extension, such as smart meters.

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11ah-2016

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2020.

Task Group ai

TGai

An amendment that supports Fast Link Setup, i.e., to reduce time to set up an association.

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11ai-2016

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2020.

Task Group aj TGaj An amendment that supports very high throughput in the China millimetre-wave bands Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11aj-2018

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2020.
Task Group ak TGak An amendment that supports General Links (i.e., bridging using 802.1 mechanisms across an 802.11 link)

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11ak-2018

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2020.
Task Group aq TGaq An amendment that supports Pre-Association Discovery. Pre-Association Discovery relates to the problem of how a Station - STA (e.g., a Mobile Device) discovers the availability of services within the network to which another STA (e.g., an Access Point) is connected. Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11aq-2018

The amendment has been superseded as it is now part of the IEEE 802.11 Standard - Published as IEEE Std. 802.11-2020.
Task Group ax TGax An amendment that supports High Efficiency WLANs, and adds support for 6GHz operation. Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11ax™-2021 on May 19, 2021.
Task Group ay TGay An amendments that supports enhanced throughput for operation license-exempt bands above 45 GHz. Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11ay™-2021 on July 28, 2021.
Task Group ba TGba An amendment that supports Wake-up Radio Operation. Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11ba™-2021 on October 8, 2021.
Task Group az TGaz

Next Generation Positioning - improved accuracy, scalability and adding directionality .

Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11az™-2022 on March 3, 2023
Task Group bb TGbb Light Communications Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11bb™-2023 on November 10, 2023
Task Group bc TGbc Enhanced Broadcast Service Following completion, an error was found and corrected in IEEE Std 802.11-2020/Cor 2-2024. This correction was incorporated into the version published as IEEE Std 802.11bc™-2023 on February 28, 2024
Task Group bd TGbd Enhancements for Next Generation V2X Completed and published as IEEE Std 802.11bd™-2022 on March 10, 2023