The wireless local area network technology is based on the OFDM protocol and enhances the speed of 802.11b by up to four or five times. B offers 11 Megabits per second compared with g’s 54 Megabits per second.

Delay in ratifying the standards had held companies like Texas Instruments from shipping their products. However, a number of companies, including Broadcom Corp., Cisco Systems Inc., Linksys, Marvell Libertas, D-Link, NetGear and Intersil, have begun 802.11g shipments.

“This approval signifies that Wi-Fi testing will soon begin to ensure that consumers can go to a store, purchase an 802.11g product and not worry about interoperability and 802.11b/g performance,” said Marisa Speziale, TI’s spokeswoman.

The standard is expected to enable enhanced voice, data, voice over Internet Protocol and video.