Mobile broadband access came a step closer recently when the IEEE 802.16e standard for untethered Wimax wireless technology was approved.
Wimax offers speeds of up to 75Mbits/sec over a range of between 2km and 50km, depending on the frequencies used and whether it is operating in the town or country. However, this throughput has to be shared by all users within a Wimax cell, so data rates to individual devices will be far less.
Data rates could still be as high as 10-20Mbits/sec, compared to around 2Mbits/sec for enhanced 3G services. But full ratification of 802.16e will not happen until late 2006 and interoperability testing will not start until 2007, by which time 3G and Wi-fi access will be well entrenched.
Intel has said it will implement Wimax in all Centrino notebooks, just as Wi-fi is supported currently.
The new standard is likely, in effect, to supersede the existing 802.16d Wimax standard for fixed links. Astonishingly, the two are not compatible because of a decision to make 802.16e interoperable with Korean Wibro technology.
Vendors are expected to follow the lead of Motorola, which says it will not offer an 802.16d product.
Motorola commented in a statement: “Mobile wireless broadband brings the promise of a solution able to bridge the digital divide in developing nations, serve the last mile extending broadband to outlaying areas, and ushering in an exciting new era of wireless applications and services.”
Motorola is partnering with Intel to develop and implement mobile Wimax.
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