Next generation Wi-Fi, otherwise known as 802.11n (current standards go up to 802.11g), may be under threat after it emerged that the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) holds several patents for the technology.

The problem, which at worse could result in 802.11n being abandoned, is caused by CSIRO's failure to promise that it won't sue anyone for infringement. The IEEE standards body requires that CSIRO makes such a commitment before it can give 802.11n the all clear.

It's understood that the IEEE has received no response to its requests for a letter of assurance. Typically many manufacturers have already placed so called 'pre-n' (draft) spec hardware on the shelves and could also be at risk from CSIRO action.