The WiMax Forum wrapped up its Interoperability PlugFest October 1st, at Bechtel Labs in Frederick, Maryland, to prepare for WiMAX certification.

The plugfest is an interoperability event. All the manufacturers are brought together to work out problems in interoperability. Interoperability of Mobile WiMAX gear is more critical than fixed WiMAX. That’s because different mobile clients will be required to connect to different basestations on a routine basis.

If the press releases are to be believed, things are looking good for interoperability.

• The Beceem MS120 Mobile WiMax chip set is a very early contender in meeting the IEEE 802.16e-2005 standard. The Beceem reference design worked with vendors including Alcatel, Alvarion, Motorola and Navini.
• Alvarion demonstrated its new 4Motion WiMAX solution. Its BreezeMAX system streamed concurrent multimedia content to multiple third party, end-user devices showing robust quality-of-service, that enables voice, video and data services over a single connection. 4Motion is a complete, end-to-end mobile WiMAX solution incorporating QoS mechanisms and multimedia subsystems along with software defined radio (SDR), beam forming, multi-in multi-out (MIMO), dynamic bandwidth allocation, and scaleable OFDMA technologies.
• Sequans and Mitac are working on mobile WiMAX subscriber units built around Sequans´ 802.16e-2005 chips. The mobile WiMAX units are currently under development for release in late 2006 include a PCMCIA card and a desktop unit.
• Airspan announced it has successfully tested a prototype HiperMAX base station and 16eUSB device. Its flagship HiperMAX base station is based upon a Software Defined Radio (SDR) and is upgradeable from 256 OFDM Fixed WiMAX to “wave 2” OFDMA Mobile WiMAX. Its “wave 2” 16eUSB device, is the world’s first quad-band WiMAX end-user device, enabling global roaming in four key WiMAX bands.
• picoChip reference designs were represented five times. Of the 19 industry-leading companies who are working together to advance interoperability, picoChip is involved directly, with partner Wintegra, with Airspan, M/A-Com and CETECOM all participating with products based on picoChip’s PHY.

The Wireless Communications Association International (WCA) announced that results from the PlugFest demonstrating interoperability of mobile products will be discussed at WCA’s Carrier & Enterprise Leadership Briefing on Wednesday, Oct. 4 in Reston, VA.

WiMAX World in Boston, October 10-12, will be the world’s largest WiMAX event. Over 3,500 attendees are registered with 175+ speakers, 125+ exhibitors and 200+ sponsors. Expect fireworks.

Globally, there are now 175 tests of WiMAX deployments underway. Although analysts vary on their estimates of the size and growth of the WiMAX market, recent projections are that the WiMAX market will grow to $20B to $100B in the next few years.

Posted by Sam Churchill on Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006 at 2:25 am.