ISO rejects China's WAPI, selects 802.11i as international standard.(ISO)

Telecom Standards Newsletter, April, 2006

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) did not accept China's wireless encryption system, known as WAPI. ISO preferred 802.11i, the American standard, instead of WAPI. If WAPI is selected as a global standard, the companies in China would benefit. However, WAPI got backing from only 8 ISO member countries out of a total of 25.

Xinhua News Agency reported that China wants the companies to use WAPI rather than depending on the foreign technologies. Even if the standard were not selected on international levels, China would continue using it domestically. However, during 2005 the country had to stop promoting WAPI due to complaints from US companies. The overseas companies were finding it difficult to enter the Chinese market because of WAPI.