Which of the following standards was ratified first, 802.11a or 802.11b?

The standard that was ratified first among the options given is 802.11b. It was officially ratified in September 1999, allowing wireless networking at speeds up to 11 Mbps and operating mainly in the 2.4 GHz frequency band. This standard significantly contributed to the popularity of wireless networking due to its extended range and compatibility with existing devices.

On the other hand, 802.11a was ratified shortly after, also in 1999, but it operates at a higher frequency of 5 GHz and supports a faster data rate of up to 54 Mbps. However, it came after 802.11b and was less widely adopted initially due to its shorter range and higher cost.

Understanding the timeline of these standards is critical for anyone dealing with networking technologies since it reflects the evolution of wireless capabilities and influences decisions on wireless equipment and network architecture.