There’s been plenty of debate over the merits of competing “4G” standards. In the U.S., Sprint and Clearwire have spared no expense building up and rolling out their high-speed WiMax network. Verizon and AT&T aren’t too far behind with their official launches of LTE networks on the horizon in 2011. Though those companies have committed to their wireless technologies for the time being, there are plenty of other providers on the global front that are not quite sold on which is right for them and their customers. With deployment such an expensive undertaking, the prospect of ending up with the less cost-effective or less-capable technology has given way to quite a quandary. WiMax or LTE?

Huawei has made this quandary a little less daunting with the launch of their new solution that allows operators an effortless and uninterrupted migration between WiMax and LTE-TDD standards. The SingleRAN solution is made up of a  dual mode base band unit (BBU) that works in concert with a WiMAX and LTE TDD dual mode remote radio unit (RRU) and is capable of operating on on 2.3GHz, 2.5GHz and 3.5GHz mainstream Time-Division Duplexing (TDD) frequency bands. 

The network solution doesn’t limit mobile broadband connections to those operating on WiMax and LTE. It’s also accessible by those using devices enabled for GPRS and UMTS, thanks to Huawei’s SingleEPC packet core network solution. Its flexibility is an undeniable strength, possessing the ability to be configured as WiMAX module, a LTE-TDD module, or a WiMAX and LTE-TDD dual mode module with the simple flick of a software upgrade.

Huawei knows a thing or two about deployment of its WiMax solutions, having won 79-plus commercial WiMAX network contracts across the globe. Their LTE-TDD capabilities also displayed admirable performance when spotlighted by China Mobile at the 2010 Shangai World Expo. The combination of such well-performing solutions is a boon to an industry currently trying to provide the fastest connections possible, but still largely experimenting and trying to improve on two less-than-perfect technologies.

 … Read the rest

Before new technology appears on the North American horizon, it always seems to pass through the fertile testing ground that is Japan. It happened with your favorite Nintendo games as a kid and it's happening with mobile broadband technology now. As Clearwire and Sprint are hard at work trying to elicit "oohs" and "aahs" from U.S. customers with their burgeoning nationwide 4G WiMax networks, Samsung already has their sights set on the next generation.

In association with Japan's UQ Communications, the Korean electronics behemoth has taken the occasion of the CEATEC trade show in Tokyo to run public trials of their 330-Mbps WiMax 2 network. While still compatible with presently implemented WiMax networks, the new version provides a significantly faster, more efficient connection  as evidenced by the concurrent display of full-HD 3D videos, and 16 full HD videos on four big screen TVs, carried out with Samsung's commercial mobile base station– a unit identical to many utilized by WiMax providers the world over.

Samsung fully expects standards for WiMax 2 to be ready to roll by next month and to have compatible devices and services on tap at the end of 2011. The goods news for those still making nice with earlier versions of WiMax is that they'll be able to intermingle with the upgrade, and vendors of the current WiMax system can easily move their customers to the new standard with the application of system software and upgraded channel cards. These apparent advancements in WiMax technology (phase 2) prior to the official phase one of the major LTE networks, may ultimately give the 4G standard a fighting chance when it comes to establishing technological superiority. So while many are labeling WiMax a "niche" technology, its champions are determined to show it has some room for growth just yet.… Read the rest

NEC Corporation announced today that UQ Communications Co., Ltd. just expanded its WiMAX service with NEC’s base stations.

UQ Communications’ WiMAX base station installation plan from the 2009 fiscal year has been increased from 4,000 to over 6,000 base stations by the end of the month, selecting two vendors to produce these new base stations.

NEC will be using the WiMAX “PasoWings BS202″ base station. The system secures WiMAX Forum Wave2 (2.5GHz) certification, an international standard that shows top quality and superior interoperability between different vendors.

UQ Communication is expanding their coverage rigorously and hopes that the installation of NEC base stations will lead to accelerated service, flexibility, and connectivity.… Read the rest

The WiMax Forum has approved Runcom’s Pico and Base Station product. It completed the WiMax Forum Wave-2 Certification process.

The base station is heavy duty and able to withstand outdoor conditions. It is upgradeable and can go from 2×2 MIMO to 4×4. It can also upgrade to support LTE, multi-frequency band support, and up to 20MHz bandwidth.… Read the rest

Rohde & Schwarz’s communication tester is the ideal solution for extended end-to-end performance tests and enables throughput measurements up to the physical limit of 31.6 Mbit/s in DL, 2X2 MIMO.

The signaling stack of the R&S CMW270 WiMax communication tester, made up of PHY and protocol (MAC) layer, supports maximum data rates in downlink and uplink.

A typical test setup consists of a network server that processes and sends IP data of common WiMax apps via Ethernet to the R&S CMW270. The tester operates as a WiMax base station emulator and transmits the data packages over the air interface to the DUT. The client, integrated in the DUT or connected to it, decodes and displays the received data stream.

Application performance tests are used to carry out detailed throughput evaluation between the server, the tester, and the client. The CMW270 is a unique, all in one solution based on a future ready platform.… Read the rest

Rohde & Schwarz’s communication tester is the ideal solution for extended end-to-end performance tests and enables throughput measurements up to the physical limit of 31.6 Mbit/s in DL, 2X2 MIMO.

The signaling stack of the R&S CMW270 WiMax communication tester, made up of PHY and protocol (MAC) layer, supports maximum data rates in downlink and uplink.

A typical test setup consists of a network server that processes and sends IP data of common WiMax apps via Ethernet to the R&S CMW270. The tester operates as a WiMax base station emulator and transmits the data packages over the air interface to the DUT. The client, integrated in the DUT or connected to it, decodes and displays the received data stream.

Application performance tests are used to carry out detailed throughput evaluation between the server, the tester, and the client. The CMW270 is a unique, all in one solution based on a future ready platform.… Read the rest

As part of efforts by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to improve communications facilities across Haiti, ten WiMax base stations are being shipped to the disaster-stricken country by Singapore-based SmartBridge Solutions.

The ITU-led project plans to use WiMax and Wi-Fi technology to set up wireless phone and internet connectivity at one hundred holding centers for those displaced by the earthquake. SmartBridge is also contributing forty Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) devices for the deployment along with assigning engineers who will work with ITU experts to help and get the network up and running as soon as possible.

Photo courtesy of IFRC via Flickr… Read the rest

Razzolink chooses PureWave Networks as its exclusive provider of mobile WiMax equipment. PureWave base stations use smart antenna technology for greater range and capacity designed to be used outside. The base stations don’t need shelter or air conditioning, reducing deployment and maintenance costs.

“We at Razzolink have deployed and tested WiMAX base stations from three leading vendors,” said Tony Iacopi, Co-Founder and EVP of Razzolink. “We have decided to standardize on PureWave Quantum base stations for reasons which include reliability, ability to utilize market sourced CPE, service and price. After working with PureWave for over a year we believe that their product will allow us to be nimble both with regards to our expansion into new markets and in converting existing customers to our new Mobile WiMAX network.”

The base stations cover 12 miles or more very effectively. It is a single box design that can be deployed completely outdoors with fully open architecture, giving customers a complete solution. The PureMax Smart Antenna technology increases base station range and capacity, using as little as 65 watts of power.

“We are delighted to be Razzolink’s vendor of choice for their growing Mobile WiMAX network,” said Gideon Ben-Efraim, PureWave CEO and Chairman. “PureWave Quantum base stations are ideal for providing WiMAX coverage to rural communities. Operators that plan to profitably serve communities with such low population densities, need to remove as much cost from the equation as possible. PureWave Quantum base stations offer exactly that, while delivering superior performance.”

Photo Courtesy of Utis Emanon via Flickr… Read the rest

Newport Digital Technologies has begun installing WiMax base stations for Newport Center Medical Plaza. It will cover four buildings for over 300 doctors and dentists.

“We are pleased to deploy this technology in Newport Center, a community universally recognized as a premier business, shopping and entertainment district and home to The Irvine Company, Allianz owned Pimco and Fashion Island, where NPDT’s WiMax solution can demonstrate its wireless Internet capabilities and offer a realistic solution for potential customers, ranging from medical and office tenants to retail customers,” said Michael Lutton, NPDT CEO.

It’s part of the installation project with the Orange County Department of Education Learning Resources Center in Costa Mesa, California. The Medical Plaza project will confirm NPDT’s WiMax solution as a leading edge product for the commercial market. Newport Digital will use this installation to validate the potential for revenue based on subscription for high-speed wireless internet.

NDPT will install subscriber stations on three high rise buildings at the medical complex. It will showcase WiMax as a commercial user base and will be the first step in installing WiMax in other parts of the U.S. and eventually, worldwide.… Read the rest

Global Mobile will purchase more than 1,000 base stations for its continued WiMax roll out in Taiwan. The company is weighing offers from Nokia Siemens Networks, Motorola and Huawei Technologies.

The base stations will be worth about NT $2 billion and the company will make the choice at the end of February. Global Mobile will roll out WiMax covering the whole of Taipei City by the end of 2010 and begin to extend its coverage to Taipei and Taoyuan Counties as well.

Photo Courtesy of Harry Huang Photography via Flickr … Read the rest