Wireless local a, ea networks (WLANs) designed as wireless ATM systems to e
xtend the services of fixed ATM networks to mobile users appear best suited
to provide a guaranteed quality of service (QoS) for wireless IP networks.
HiperLAN/2 is an ETSI/BRAN standard providing convergence layers for both
IP and ATM classes of service. Besides a description of Hiper LAN/2 and its
Home Environment Extension, the performance for IP traffic flows is presen
ted from analysis and from simulating a prototype implementation. Col exist
ence with the IEEE 802. 11a WLAN is discussed and the ability of HiperLAN/2
to guarantee QoS even when coexisting is analyzed. Ad hoc networking of Hi
perLAN/2 is analyzed and two possible extensions of the system are introduc
ed and their performance evaluated, namely adaptive antennas and wireless b
ase stations.