What is the main characteristic of 802.11ac?

The main characteristic of 802.11ac is its high data throughput capabilities. This wireless standard, also known as Wi-Fi 5, was developed to provide faster speeds for wireless networking compared to its predecessors, such as 802.11n. It achieves this through various technologies such as wider channels (up to 160 MHz), advanced modulation techniques (like 256-QAM), and the ability to use multiple spatial streams with Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO). These innovations enable 802.11ac to support high-bandwidth applications such as HD video streaming and online gaming, making it a favorable choice for modern wireless environments.

The other options highlight characteristics that do not apply to 802.11ac. It is a wireless standard rather than a standard for wired connections, it actually supports high data throughput rather than being the least, and while it is commonly used in local area networks, describing it solely as a local area network connection overlooks its broader application in various wireless environments.