With the WiMAX industry seeing a non-linear shift in mobile broadband usage models similar to when people went from dial-up to broadband, consumers on some WiMAX networks are consuming 7 to 10 GB of data per month. As WiMAX 1 allowed an open model for high speed, wireless Internet, the time has come to push the envelope to help operators keep up with insatiable demand.

To address this demand, leading WiMAX silicon suppliers, equipment makers and research organizations including industry giants Intel and Samsung have announced the WiMAX 2 initiative to accelerate interoperability of the next release of WiMAX technology, based upon the IEEE 802.16m standard.

The group explained that 802.16m builds upon 802.16e and adds new capabilities while maintaining backward compatibility and meeting the International Telecommunications Union requirements for 4G or “IMT-Advanced,” delivering higher system capacity – peak rates of more than 300 Mbps – lower latency and increased VoIP capacity. These performance gains will allow WiMAX operators to keep up with the explosion in demand for rich, multimedia mobile applications and devices which increasingly require high speed, on-the-go connectivity.

The 802.16m air interface standard definition began in 2006 in the IEEE as a follow-on to 802.16e, and is expected to be completed in the second half of this year.

As the 4G wireless broadband industry begins to take shape, the industry model must evolve to create a better value chain for service providers.

With this goal in mind, WiMAX vendors Alvarion, Beceem, GCT Semiconductor, Intel, Motorola, Samsung, Sequans, XRONet and ZTE as well as the Taiwanese research organization, ITRI, have launched the WiMAX 2 Collaboration Initiative (WCI).

WCI said it will work closely with the WiMAX Forum to accelerate the implementation of interoperable system profiles for WiMAX 2 equipment and devices with the goal of improving the economics of mobile broadband.

The group said its objectives include technology collaboration and joint performance benchmarking; joint testing of 4G applications over WiMAX 2 solutions; early network level interoperability testing; and plugfests to prepare for WiMAX Forum certification.

“The wireless industry is convinced that the growing volume of data consumers are eating up is a bad thing. But for us, our spectrum position gives us tremendous capacity and the ability to meet the explosive demand for mobile broadband. Today our CLEAR mobile customers are using an average of more than 7GB of data per month on our network. And while other companies are considering how to curtail usage, we simply say to our customers, here’s the Internet: the world in the palm of your hand – enjoy it,” said Mike Sievert, Chief Commercial Officer at Clearwire, in a statement.

The group said it will issue detailed milestones and delivery schedules within the next three to six months with the goal to support the WiMAX Forum’s readiness to certify commercial products by late 2011.

By: DocMemory
Copyright © 2023 CST, Inc. All Rights Reserved