EE Times reports, NextWave Wireless, a wireless ISP, plans to introduce WiMax chip sets through its subsidiary, NextWave Broadband.
The move is the first time any of NextWave’s properties have ventured directly into IC development. NextWave’s focus is on combined Wi-Fi/WiMax chips matches the parent company’s system-level hardware plans. NextWave Wireless intends to establish a nationwide WiMax network.
NextWave Wireless was started by Allen Salmasi, former president of Qualcomm’s wireless division, and should not be confused with NextNet Wireless, a Clearwire subsidiary that was bought by Motorola for $300M last year.
NextWave was originally formed in the 1990s to bid on broadband PCS auctions. It filed for Chapter 11 when it couldn’t raise the bid money but later regained spectrum after long battles with the courts and FCC. In 2005, NextWave Telecom was sold to Verizon Wireless for $3 billion.
The company then acquired PacketVideo, established an advanced technology group, and went public in 2006, acquiring WiMAX/WiFi basestation manufacturer GO Networks and mobile TV specialist IPWireless this May.
NextWave Broadband said it is close to sampling with its first-generation NW1000 chips, based on the 802.16e mobile WiMax standard, for spectrum allocations of 2.3, 2.5 and 3.4 to 3.8 GHz.
A second-generation chip family dubbed NW2000 is expected in early 2008 and will comply with WiMax Forum Wave 2. The baseband chip will use an integrated WiMax/Wi-Fi system-on-chip, designed in 0.65-micron CMOS, and meeting 802.11 a/b/g specs at 2.4 GHz. The WiMax interface will meet global TDD and FDD spectrum allocations from 1.7-3.8 GHz.
Where NextWave will get their spectrum is not yet clear. The AWS band (at 1.7/2.1 GHz) or the MMS band (using similar frequencies on terrestrial repeaters) might be two available options. As a virtual operator, NextWave could also offer their own two-way media services on 2.5 GHz WiMAX frequencies provided by Sprint and Clearwire.
