Networking standards: who makes them and the IEEE 802 family
In short: A standard is an agreed definition that lets equipment from different manufacturers work together. IEEE 802 standards define how LANs work at the physical and data link layers, including Ethernet (802.3) and Wi-Fi (802.11).
Why we need standards
A standard is an agreed, published definition of how something must work, for example how bits are sent on a cable or how a web page is requested. Standards are not tied to one company, so a laptop from one brand can connect to a switch from another and a website from anywhere. They keep markets open and competitive and guarantee that networks work together across countries.
The main standards organisations
| Organisation | What it does |
|---|---|
| ANSI (American National Standards Institute) | The official standards body of the United States. |
| IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) | A global professional association that publishes key networking standards, including Ethernet and Wi-Fi. |
| ISO (International Organization for Standardization) | A worldwide federation of national standards bodies; it created the OSI model. |
| IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) | Develops the protocols that run the internet, such as TCP/IP, published as RFCs. |
| W3C (World Wide Web Consortium) | Develops the standards of the web, such as HTML and CSS. |
IEEE 802: the LAN and MAN family
In 1980 the IEEE started Project 802 so that LAN equipment from different manufacturers could work together. IEEE 802 doesn't replace the OSI or TCP/IP models. Instead it defines the two lowest layers in detail, and it splits the data link layer into two sub-layers: Logical Link Control (LLC) and Media Access Control (MAC).
| Standard | Covers | Status today |
|---|---|---|
| 802.1 | Bridging, network management, VLANs (802.1Q), port authentication (802.1X) | Very active |
| 802.2 | Logical Link Control | Stable, rarely changed |
| 802.3 | Ethernet, using CSMA/CD on shared media | Very active |
| 802.4 | Token bus | Historical |
| 802.5 | Token ring | Historical |
| 802.6 | Metropolitan area networks (DQDB) | Historical |
| 802.11 | Wireless LANs (Wi-Fi) | Very active |
| 802.15 | Personal area networks: 802.15.1 (based on Bluetooth), 802.15.4 (low-power sensors, used by Zigbee) | Active |
| 802.16 | Broadband wireless access (WiMAX) | Largely replaced by 4G/5G |
IEEE 802.3: Ethernet
802.3 is the working group that defines wired Ethernet: its physical layer (cables, signals, speeds) and its MAC sub-layer. It started as a LAN technology and now also runs in data centres, between buildings and even in cars. Over the years 802.3 has added much faster speeds and new features:
- speeds from 10 Mb/s up to 100, 200 and 400 Gb/s and beyond, over copper and fibre;
- Power over Ethernet (PoE): up to about 90 W delivered on the same cable as data, powering access points, IP cameras and phones;
- single-pair Ethernet for cars and industrial machines.
IEEE 802.11: Wi-Fi
The 802.11 working group, formed in 1990, defines wireless LANs. Each new amendment has made Wi-Fi faster and more efficient:
| Standard | Name | Band | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 802.11b / a / g | (early Wi-Fi) | 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 2.4 GHz | Up to 11 to 54 Mb/s |
| 802.11n | Wi-Fi 4 | 2.4 and 5 GHz | Multiple antennas (MIMO) |
| 802.11ac | Wi-Fi 5 | 5 GHz | Wider channels, much faster |
| 802.11ax | Wi-Fi 6 / 6E | 2.4, 5 (and 6) GHz | Better in crowded places |
| 802.11be | Wi-Fi 7 | 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz | Very high speed, lower delay |
Security for Wi-Fi was strengthened by 802.11i, the basis of WPA2. Today, use WPA3 where possible. See Wi-Fi basics.
Practice
Why can a laptop from one brand connect to a switch from another brand?
Which organisation develops internet protocols such as TCP/IP?
Which two sub-layers does IEEE 802 divide the data link layer into?
Key takeaways
- Standards let equipment from different makers work together.
- Key bodies: ANSI, IEEE, ISO, IETF and W3C.
- IEEE 802 defines LANs at the physical and data link layers, splitting layer 2 into LLC and MAC.
- 802.3 is Ethernet (including PoE); 802.11 is Wi-Fi, now up to Wi-Fi 7.
- 802.1Q (VLANs) and 802.1X (port authentication) matter a lot in secure networks.
Original content written by Mohamed Fayas for FM TecHub. © 2026 FM TecHub. You're welcome to share a link to this page; please don't copy the text elsewhere without permission.