What is the highest bit rate supported by 802.11g?

The correct answer is indeed 54 Megabits per second (Mbps) for the 802.11g wireless standard. 802.11g, which was introduced as part of the IEEE 802.11 family in 2003, is designed to operate in the 2.4 GHz frequency band and is backward compatible with 802.11b.

The maximum throughput of 54 Mbps is achieved by utilizing Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) technology, which allows for more data to be transmitted simultaneously over a single channel compared to older standards. This higher bit rate enhances the performance of wireless networks, enabling faster data transmission, improved streaming capabilities, and better support for high-bandwidth applications.

While older standards like 802.11b have maximum bit rates of just 11 Mbps, and the more advanced standards like 802.11n can reach much higher speeds (up to 600 Mbps in some configurations), 802.11g stands out as a significant improvement over 802.11b specifically with its support for up to 54 Mbps, making it a popular choice for many wireless networks during its peak usage years.