A company requires a new wireless network that can support maximum theoretical throughput and operates exclusively in the 5 GHz frequency band to minimize interference from older devices. Which specific 802.11 wireless standard best meets these primary requirements?

The specific 802.11 wireless standard that best meets these primary requirements is 802.11ac. 802.11ac, also known as Wi-Fi 5, operates exclusively within the 5 GHz frequency band. The 5 GHz frequency band refers to a part of the radio spectrum that allows for higher data transmission speeds and offers more available, less congested channels compared to the 2.4 GHz band, which is commonly used by older wireless devices and many other electronics like microwaves and Bluetooth. By operating exclusively in the 5 GHz band, 802.11ac effectively minimizes interference, which is the disruption of a signal by another signal, from older devices that predominantly use the 2.4 GHz band. This exclusive operation directly fulfills the requirement to minimize interference. Furthermore, 802.11ac provides very high theoretical throughput, which is the maximum data transfer rate achievable under optimal conditions. It can support theoretical speeds up to 6.9 Gigabits per second (Gbps) when utilizing its full capabilities, such as wider channel bandwidths and multiple spatial streams, making it capable of delivering maximum theoretical throughput within the scope of standards exclusive to the 5 GHz band. While newer standards like 802.11ax (Wi-Fi 6/6E) offer even higher throughput, they do not operate exclusively in the 5 GHz frequency band, as they also support 2.4 GHz and, for Wi-Fi 6E, the 6 GHz band, failing to meet the exclusivity requirement. Therefore, 802.11ac is the standard that precisely matches both the exclusive 5 GHz operation and the high theoretical throughput requirements.