WIMAX SEEKS BIGGER IMPACT WITH EXPANDED MEMBERSHIP

Lower prices for 802.16a metropolitan area network equipment and the ability to deploy multivendor networks are two of the biggest consequences to be expected from the recent enlargement of the WiMax Forum. But the group also will tackle the new mission of convergence with 802.11 Wi-Fi technologies and getting telcos operating DSL service to see the 802.16a standard's viability for range extension.

The World Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMax) Forum announced recently that it was expanding its membership to include broadband wireless access vendors Alvarion, Aperto Networks and AirSpan Networks, along with 802.11 WLAN companies such as Intel, Proxim, Fujitsu and Wi-LAN. Nokia, Harris Corp, Ensemble Communications and Crosspan Network Access Technologies founded the WiMax Forum in April 2002. The OFDM Forum also participates in WiMax.

Until recently, the group had been focused on equipment interoperability for the IEEE 802.16 standard supporting long-range fixed wireless networking between the frequencies of 10 GHz and 60 GHz. The standard further defined its governed transmissions as covering up to 31 miles in non-line-of-sight linear applications. However, in late January the IEEE approved modifying the standard to address equipment and networks operating in the 2 GHz to 11 GHz frequencies.

The modification better addresses the universe of fixed wireless equipment on the market, an increasing amount of which is being tuned to lower, unlicensed frequencies. It also opens the door to 802.11 equipment using 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz in standard interoperability testing, said Margaret LaBrecque, an Intel employee and president of the WiMax Forum.

She said the WiMax Forum will promote the newly modified standard aggressively to encourage network operators to employ 802.16a-certified equipment, helping them construct wireless MANs that offer shared data bandwidth of up to 70 Mb/s to businesses in a typical metropolitan corridor. Also, 802.16a now can be positioned as a wireless backhaul method for 802.11 Wi-Fi and BWA customer deployments.

The initial impact of the group's new membership and efforts will be realized in the existing market for 802.16 equipment. “The immediate end result is low-cost equipment and creating multivendor opportunities for carriers,” said Mohammad Shakouri, assistant vice president for business development at Alvarion. “Carriers will be very excited about this. They have been pushing for the standard to open up.” (Two carriers asked to comment for this story declined, saying they are not ready to publicize their strategies.)

“There will be interesting opportunities to combine 802.16 and 802.11, and WiMax now has companies in both value chains represented,” Shakouri said.

Also, LaBrecque said the modified standard could be used to help develop wireless extensions to DSL or cable modems for last-mile broadband access, an idea WiMax will promote.

Shakouri agreed, adding that though small wireless ISPs have been interested in 802.16 thus far, Tier 1 telcos will take notice of potential applications. “They have been looking for ways to further extend their DSL range,” he said.

The WiMax Forum's membership companies will be busy in the coming months working to develop a certification process — and possibly a certification branding campaign — for testing and approving 802.16a equipment. The group's members envision promoting 802.16 interoperability in much the same way the Wi-Fi Alliance has successfully touted 802.11 interoperability by testing gear and then encouraging vendors to stamp their packaging with a “Wi-Fi Certified” logo. There are no specific plans yet for “WiMax Certified” branding, but the members said that would be discussed.