WiMAX World USA 2006, opening today in Boston, (program, speakers, exhibitors and Google News), is ground zero for anyone interested in broadband wireless. Mobile WiMax will be deployed in the United States next year and research firm Yankee Group estimates 7.3 million WiMax subscribers by 2010.

The Boston show, say sponsors, is the world’s largest WiMAX event with over 4,500 attendees, 175+ speakers, and 140+ exhibitors. The WiMAX Forum has been busily certifying fixed (802.16-2004) gear for interoperabily over the last six months while Mobile WiMAX (802.16e-2005), was ratified earlier this year. Interoperability testing for Mobile WiMAX will happen next year.

The world’s largest cell phone manufacturers; Nokia, Motorola and Samsung, ranking 1, 2 and 3 respectively, announced WiMAX basestations this week and plan to ship Mobile WiMAX handsets in 2008. Giant telco infrastructure vendors like Alcatel, Nortel and Siemens are jumping into WiMAX with both feet.

Earlier this year, Sprint Nextel said it would spend $1 billion next year and up to $2 billion in 2008 to deploy WiMAX nationwide. In July, Intel and Motorola invested some $900 million in Clearwire to hasten WiMAX expansion.

This week it’s show and tell.

A raft of new fixed and mobile WiMAX gear is being displayed by the nascent WiMAX industry. Soon WiMAX may (or may not) transform the landscape. WiMAX enthusiasts claim it enables fast, cheap broadband wireless with Wi-Fi speed and cellular range. Cellular providers are (generally) skeptical of those claims.

Vendor announcements this week include:

• ADAPTIX has announced pricing and availability for its line of high- performance compact mobile base stations and mobile terminals. Both the BX- 3000 family of base stations and SX-300 mobile terminal deliver multi-megabit mobile and fixed wireless connections. The BX-3000 series of Mobile Base Stations will be available at volume street pricing starting at $19,995 for a single-sector configuration. A three-sector base station configuration starts at $39,995. Supporting full 802.16e functionality, the SX-300 mobile unit provides approximately 4 Mbps of aggregate airlink performance and will be available at volume street pricing starting at $349 in either 2.3 or 2.5 GHz profiles. The powerful SX-500 Mobile Terminal is ADAPTIX’s performance leader and is ideal for fixed, portable or vehicular applications.
• Airspan Networks today announced an economical “get started” WiMAX system in the 3.5GHz and 5.8GHz frequency bands. It is shipping its MicroMAX Base Station in the 5.8GHz frequency band (pdf) which is optimized for their existing Indoor EasyST and Outdoor ProST subscriber terminals. The base station and WiMAX customer premise devices are claimed to be the best price offered by any vendor in the WiMAX industry. It provides connectivity at up to 10 Mbps in a small, compact package, which can be delivered and installed within several weeks of order. Wi-Fi connectivity is also included in the system. The company says it employs software-defined radio technology to deliver “Wave 2” OFDMA 802.16e mobility with support for MIMO, beam-forming antennas and multi-vendor interoperability. Airspan said shipments are set to begin during the fourth quarter of this year.

• Alcatel’s Evolium has been in a lot of trials—10 by its count—but it has not landed a commercial contract yet. Alcatel’s Evolium radio is pure code: software that defines that the specific RF configuration and modulation scheme of each deployment. Alcatel champions beamforming but also includes MIMO for better signal strength.
• Alvarion announced the availability of its BreezeMAX 2300 and BreezeMAX 2500 products, with shipments expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year. Employing the IEEE 802.16e standard, Alvarion is extending its BreezeMAX platform to address the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz bands available in North America and the rest of the world. It is the radio access base station of the company’s mobile WiMAX solution, 4Motion. The BreezeMAX 2300 and BreezeMAX 2500 are extensions of Alvarion’s widely-successful, field-proven BreezeMAX platform, one of the first WiMAX systems to launch in 2004.
• Aperto and SEQUANS announced today WiMAX base stations and subscriber units using Sequans’ mobile WiMAX chipsets in its PacketMAX WiMAX base stations. Sequans’ mobile WiMAX chip solutions, support the recently ratified 802.16e-2005 broadband wireless access standard for cost-effective mobile WiMAX base stations and subscriber stations.
• BelAir Networks announced a WiMax roadmap. The company utilizes 802.16d WiMAX radio modules operating in the 2.3GHz and 2.5GHz bands. These modules fit in the industry-leading BelAir100 and BelAir200 mesh nodes. They will support mobile WiMax/802.16e running in multiple frequencies (2.3, 2.5 and 3.5 GHz) for mesh backhaul connections and client connections. The fixed WiMax modules are available now.
• Fujitsu Network Communications and Fujitsu Microelectronics America launched their WiMAX product line, which includes two models of base stations—the WM100 line of outdoor RF and baseband units and the WM200 RF and baseband units. Both are designed for both indoor and outdoor use. Solectek Corp., a broadband wireless networking developer, said it has chosen Fujitsu Microelectronics America Inc.’s WiMAX chip for its SkyWAY-MAX multiservice access systems. The company said its new fixed broadband wireless platform for data, voice and video will be available at the end of the year.

  Fujitsu is targeting mid-year 2007 for its Mobile WiMAX SoC. Samsung’s Mobile WiMAX is the only other major vendor to work in both the silicon and radio access spaces. Intel’s Rosedale 2 is expected to take the major lead on chipsets, but mostly on the CPE side.

• InfiNet Wireless today announced the new SkyMAN NG universal platform, which claims to enable fixed and mobile broadband wireless access for WiMAX, Mesh and Wi-Fi networks in a single platform. SkyMAN NG, an 802.16-based system with multiple modules, allows business applications for operators, public safety responders, service providers and industrial enterprises, as well as for the small to medium enterprise and small office/home office markets.

• Intel announced the WiMAX Connection 2250 (Rosedale 2), a low-cost system-on-chip that supports both 802.16-2004 and 802.16e-2005 (Mobile WiMAX) networks. It is pin compatible with the Intel PRO/Wireless 5116 wireless modem, for an easy upgrade path for equipment manufacturers. Intel says it benefits from the economics of combined IEEE 802.16d and 802.16e volumes. Motorola announced it would use the Rosedale 2 chip in its WiMAX 200 series of customer equipment, which the company plans to ship next year. Other vendors announcing commitment to Intel’s 2250 chip include Alvarion, Airspan, Alcatel, Aperto, Redline and Siemens.

  Intel also unveiled a new baseband card for WiMAX base stations. The Intel NetStructure WiMAX Baseband Card ($3,500) is an integrated hardware and software platform in a standards-based Advanced Mezzanine Card (AdvancedMC) form factor. The card combines a physical layer from picoChip with Intel’s own media access control and IXP2350 network processor. The typical power consumption using the product for a three-sector base station with a 2 km coverage radius is 400 watts, while traditional cellular technology would draw nearly 3,000 watts for the same coverage. The low-power makes alternate energy sources like solar possible.

• MOTOROLA’s WiMAX Week is expected to make a splash with its Moto Wi4 line of products. MOTOROLA’s Wi4 WiMAX line provides enhanced broadband wireless access in fixed, nomadic and mobile environments. Operators with wi4 WiMAX networks will be able to extend coverage and capability to serve today’s large metro areas as well as new markets previously not reached.

  Motorola’s portfolio of Mobile WiMAX devices, on display at WiMAX World, will include the outdoor CPEo 200 Series unit as well as indoor desktop units CPEi 200, CPEi 400 and the CPEi 600. They feature MIMO for increased range, throughput, and indoor penetration. Motorola WAP 25400 access points with MIMO and laptops with Beceem Mobile WiMAX PCMCIA cards deliver fixed, nomadic and mobile applications. Motorola’s Mobile WiMAX line is scheduled for trial deployments in 2006 and for general availability in Q2 2007. Both Sprint and Clearwire will use Motorola’s WiMAX technology for their nationwide broadband network.


• Navini is incorporating both MIMO and Beamforming in its Smart WiMAX platform to extend the range over which typical MIMO signals can be received and to enhance the signal’s power. Navini is taking orders for Smart WiMAX, but did not announce when it expects to begin shipping the new products. CPE chip developer Beceem has said its is working on dual-mode MIMO/beamforming devices with its vendor partners.
• The Nokia Flexi WiMAX Base Station will be commercially available for the 2.5 GHz band at the end of 2007 and for 3.5 GHz in 1Q 2008. WiMAX-capable Nokia mobile devices are expected to be available in 2008. The compact, light weight base station modules minimize space and power requirements. Nokia’s mobile WiMAX solution is designed to work seamlessly with Nokia Unified Core Networks and IP Multimedia Subsystem. Nokia expects to start selling WiMAX mobile phones in 2008, the world’s top handset maker said at WiMAX World.
• Nortel and Runcom are collaborating to deliver MIMO-enabled mobile WiMAX (802.16e) devices, which will be available mid-2007. Nortel is demonstrating an IP television (IPTV) service over WiMAX connections (via a four Megabit stream) with integrated electronic program guide. While this is happening, users are also able to share instant messaging and pictures captured on screen or from other devices with other viewers. Nortel announced Golden Telecom, a leading Russian operator, is launching a mobile WiMAX field trial in Moscow based on Nortel 4G technology. It will provide a connection speed range of between 1 Mbps and 25 Mbps for each user.
• Redline Communications will feature live, over-the-air IPTV demonstrations using its WiMAX Forum Certified RedMAX family of products. WiMAX World attendees can experience live IPTV demonstrations over the world’s first complete WiMAX-certified system at Redline’s booth. Redline’s carrier-class RedMAX Base Station (AN-100U) supports voice, video, and prioritized data traffic, enabling long-range, high-capacity wireless broadband networks. Redline’s WiMAX products also include the RedMAX Indoor Subscriber Unit (SU-I) and Outdoor Subscriber Unit (SU-O) designed for enterprise and residential services. The RedMAX Management Suite enables operators to monitor and control the network, ensuring high service availability.
• Samsung’s Mobile WiMAX is the only vendor to have an operating commercial system (in Seoul, Korea). Samsung offers basestations and handsets that (will be) compatible with the Mobile WiMAX standard, but do not feature all the enhancements of 802.16e (like MIMO). Samsung is submitting its WiBro technology to the Forum for the first wave of Single Input/Single Output certification this fall, as are its competitors. Samsung also has plans for a MIMO smart antenna system in the works, but, like the other vendors, Samsung has to wait for the Forum’s Wave 2 certification next summer.
• SEQUANS Communications announced the general availability of its 802.16e mobile WiMAX chips. The Sequans solutions was officially unveiled and operating live at WiMAX World at the Boston World Trade Center. The mobile station chip, the SQN1110s , features the industry’s lowest power consumption, drawing a mere 350mW of power, and delivers a throughput of more than 10 Mbps. The chip integrates both physical (PHY) and media access control (MAC) layers. It is suitable for fixed devices such as desktop modems and residential gateways, and portable devices such as PC cards, PCI Express mini-cards, USB dongles, and SDIO modules.
• SOMA Networks and Sequans announced an agreement to integrate Sequans’ 802.16e-2005 technology and chipsets with SOMA’s FlexMAX Mobile WiMAX System. At the WiMAX Forum Plugfest, SOMA and Sequans demonstrated streaming multiple, simultaneous traffic flows, in preparation for Mobile WiMAX 802.16e-2005 certification. Leveraging dynamic multi-antenna processing technology including AAS and MIMO, the FlexMAX System provides a single architecture that automatically adapts to rural, suburban, urban or even mixed environments to automatically maximize system throughput. By incorporating Sequans’ technology, the FlexMAX System will empower service providers with the first Mobile WiMAX system to package low power consumption and a compact footprint, with the processing power to handle advanced wireless technology and high revenue applications.
• Stella Doradus unveiled its new Netamorphic mobile WiMAX antenna, a solid state remote electrical tilt antenna that the company says constantly monitors RF and environmental conditions from a centrally controlled network operations center and adapts appropriately to ensure optimal network performance.
  
• TeleCIS Wireless, a developer of WiMAX fixed, portable and mobile broadband wireless chips, today announced it has begun shipments of its industry leading 2×2 MIMO WiMAX SoC to customers after successful productization and interoperability testing with leading Base Station vendors. TeleCIS claims the TCW 1620 is the only WiMAX ASIC on the market with dual receive and dual transmit support in a single ASIC, delivering up to 15dB of additional performance as compared to other products currently on the market, for up to 2 1/2 times the range for self installed CPEs. The performance is delivered while maintaining the lowest power consumption of any WiMAX chip on the market, under 300mw for the complete Baseband/MAC SoC operating with both channels.
• Texas Instruments announced its WiMAX Forum 802.16e Wave 1 Certification Library. TI’s highly optimized software library incorporates all of the core signal processing and permutation functions required to build a Wave 1 compliant solution. In addition, TI has incorporated Wave 2 permutation functions to hasten the adoption of the advanced multi-antenna signal processing features such as MIMO and beamforming which are defined as part of the WiMAX Forum Wave 2 feature set.

• Telsima Corporation announced its StarMAX 6000 WiMAX base station based on the Company’s new Mobile WiMAX system architecture. It incorporates Telsima’s D+E–DualMode technology and offers TRUFLE enabled mobility services conforming to the 300mm ETSI front-I/O form factor. The first version offered will be the StarMAX 6400, a 3U, 4 sector, base station supporting STC/MRC, upgradeable to support D+E–DualMode during the first half of 2007. Telsima says its TRUFLE technology is a lightweight architecture and software solution that enables the use of commoditized network elements, significantly reducing the infrastructure investments for mobile solutions.
• Wireless Facilities Inc. said it expanded its WiMAX capabilities through a strategic agreement with Redline Communications that will offer operators a set of WiMAX solutions. WFI specializes in design, deployment, integration and management of networks. The company to augment its existing WiMAX capabilities by bundling Redline’s WiMAX products with its existing services.

• Wavesat is working with RF Magic on a WiMax miniPCI module that will cost less than $100 for OEMs. It combines the Wavesat DM256 baseband and software with RF Magic’s Magic Max multi-band transceiver and amplifiers. Wavesat chips are also being used by EION Wireless to make “Triple Play Anywhere” 802.16 products. Siemens and Wavesat are collaborating on Siemens’ WayMAX@vantage base station and Wavesat based subscriber stations (above).
  
• Wintegra, a fabless semiconductor company , announced today a complete fixed and mobile 802.16e upper and lower MAC with integrated network interface and transport functions, and that the 802.16e base station development platform, WinHDP, is now shipping to customers. Both the MAC and the platform were successfully used by multiple 802.16e base station vendors to interoperate with subscriber stations and CPE solutions in the WiMAX Forum “Plugfest” event held in Frederick, Maryland in September.
• ZyXEL launched WiMax customer premise equipment (CPE), the bMAX-200H (indoors) and MAX-300 (outdoors). Both support mobile WiMax/ 802.16e. They also offer a mobile PCMCIA card that should be out sometime this quarter.

Other announcements are likely to be forth coming. For example Clearwire, Intel, Sprint, DirecTV and others could shake things up. Telephony has additional coverage.

The primary home for Mobile WiMax will be the 2.5 GHz band (now called BRS) and ITFS (Instructional Fixed Television Service) (now called EBS). As of November 2005, over 1,700 BRS Licenses and 2,500 EBS Licenses (formerly ITFS) were listed on the FCC’s ULS License Search web site. The FCC’s Tower Search has additional information. Maravedis estimated the broadband wireless licensees (below), from the FCC’s ULS License Search web site.

Protected Service Areas (PSA) is an exclusive license service granted comprised of a 35 Mile Radius surrounding the licensed transmitter site. Basic Trading Areas (BTA) is geographic region defined by a group of counties that surround a city as formulated by Rand McNally. There are 493 BTAs in the U.S.

Ben Wolff, co-chief executive of Clearwire, offered a rare glimpse into the Kirkland company, reports the Seattle Times.

• Wolff said when the cellular industry was first launching, forecasts placed growth rates at 1 to 2 percent a year. That’s the speed at which Clearwire is growing every quarter or two, Wolff said. “We are we seeing tremendous demand for our services,” he said.
• At the end of 2005, the company had 50,000 subscribers. Nine months later, Wolff said it had 162,000. That’s out of the 5.6 million people who could have access to Clearwire’s service in 31 markets.
• It currently has enough spectrum today to reach 210 million people in the U.S., or two-thirds of the nation’s population.
• In surveys of customers, Clearwire has found that 10 percent had no Internet access before; 32 percent switched from dial-up; and 58 percent had wireline broadband.
• Wolff said the top three reasons consumers buy the service were simplicity, portability and speed. “Two-thirds of customers are selecting us because of portability,” he said. “It can fit in briefcase, and has to be plugged into power, but when chips are built into devices and PC cards, the portability and mobility aspects will go through the roof.”

According to Sprint, the “right price” is somewhere between $30 and $50 per month. Clearwire WiMAX service costs $30/mo for approx 800 kbps down and 225 up. For $10/mo more you can get 1.5 mbps down. Equipment rental runs another $5/month.

Related DailyWireless articles include; Intel Wireless Roadmap, Sprint: It’s WiMAX!, Mobile WiMax: It’s Done, DirecTV/Clearwire Close?, BellSouth Pushing 2.3 GHz, BellSouth Expands WiMAX, Clearwire’s $900M Payday, Mobile WiMAX: The Attack Plan, Mobile WiMAX: It Begins, It’s Sprint or Nothing, The WiMax Procession, Clearwire Does Voice, Clearwire Likes E, Intel Inside Clearwire, Cable/Sprint Pole Dance, Navini Claims Beamforming WiMAX and IEEE Suspends 802.20 Deliberations.

Posted by Sam Churchill on Tuesday, October 10th, 2006 at 2:52 am.