Wireless industry leaders will team up to develop the next-generation of WiMAX. The grouping will be called the WiMAX 2 Collaboration Initiative and it will speed up the standards and devices that will be part of WiMAX 2.0. The testing will be based on the IEEE 802.11m standard. It will be peak data rates of more than 300 Mbps. It allows operators to keep the spectrum supply meet the every increasing demand of wireless data. The testing is expected to be complete by the second half of 2010.
Alvarion, Beceem, GCT Semiconductor, Intel, Motorola, Samsung, Sequans, XRONet and ZTE will help foster the evolution of WiMAX by providing a better value chain for service providers. The group will work with the governing body, WiMAX Forum on interoperability and establishing standards for WiMAX 2.0. The objectives include developing the technology, testing 4G applications for WiMAX 2.0, interoperability testing and preparation for WiMAX Forum certification.
WiMAX is not seeing a linear shift in mobile broadband usage. Operators are trying to satisfy hungry data consumers and the spectrum advantage is the most important part. Users on some networks use 7-10GB of data a month. The first edition of WiMAX showed how there can be an open model for high speed wireless internet. WiMAX 2.0 will continue to grow the model, along with providing faster speeds and keep up with the ever growing data demand.
“The wireless industry is convinced that the growing volume of data consumers are eating up is a bad thing,” said Mike Sievert, Chief Commercial Officer, Clearwire. “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.”
Over the next few months, the group will provide detailed updates, so that the WiMAX Forum can certify commercial-ready products by late 2011. In a keynote address at WiMAX Forum Congress Asia, Samsung Executive Vice President and Head of the Telecommunications Systems Business, Samsung Electronics Woonsub Kim stressed the importance of mobile WiMAX is the 4G technology now, and that Samsung is committed to expanding WiMAX 2.0.
“In both standardization and commercialization, Mobile WiMAX has marked clear milestones ahead of any other 4G technology candidates,” he added. “More than 150 operators are currently providing Mobile WiMAX services to over 120 different devices. It is evident that Mobile WiMAX has a robust and popular ecosystem and continues to spread across the globe.”
It’s curious that Clearwire isn’t on the list of companies that will look into WiMAX 2.0. They have a tremendous spectrum advantage in the U.S. and to not see them on the list is suspect. They’ve hinted previously that they could possibly switch to LTE in the near future. WiMAX 2.0. would lose a lot of steam if Clearwire made the switch before commercial testing begins. Clearwire toes a tight rope because it hasn’t flat out endorsed WiMAX for the future. They’re probably weighing the decision to switch to LTE and they’re being smart by not showing their hand. Could they stick with WiMAX and evolve to WiMAX 2.0, or will they implement LTE because they can? Only time and the decision makers at Clearwire can make that choice.
Photo Courtesy of Masaru Kamikura via Flickr
