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WiMAX Forum
WiMAX Forum World Mobile Congress
April 9-10,2008, Singapore
The WiMAX Forum Congress and Exhibition, a much sought after event by the WiMAX industry and users
is set to be held at Singapore in April 2008. The excitement in the WiMAX camp is increasing as the launch of XOHM in United
States will showcase the differentiating features of the mobile WiMAX technology. Not surprisingly the Forum also features
WiMAX Vs. LTE and UMB debate as well as winning strategies for next generation technology. The fact that the disruptive technology
of WiMAX is now coming to fruitation is in fact featuring as one of the session topics. The same theme will be echoed in a
parallel track “ from walled gardens to fat pipes”, being the way the WiMAX industry wishes to project this technology.The
Congress will also provide updates on WiMAX testing and certification and regulatory developments. With Asia being one of
the regions where WiMAX has advanced rapidly for providing broadband wireless services, the interest is high.
The Congress
will also throw more light on the new opportunities arising from the OFDMA-TDD being accepted by an air interface by WRC-2007
and becoming one of the approved air interfaces under IMT advanced.
A number of new WiMAX devices are also readying for
their entry, which include the likes of Nokia 810/830 Internet tablet and ASUS UMPC amongst others. The Exhibition will perhaps
provide the best opportunity to see everything from wave 2 devices, base stations, networking equipment and consumer devices.
Almost
around the world, in Las Vegas the NAB show(11-17 April 2008) will also open with its theme of IPTV and streaming media. WiMAX
TV System is one of the products being highlighted by UDCast. As the new WiMAX networks go live, Video streaming and multicast
is expected to be one of the most important applications of the new technology which provides an assured QoS for services,
which go a long way from frozen frames or flickering windows of video delivered by the internet.
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CES
Las Vegas, Jan 2008
WiMAX enabled devices ( such as
UMPCs, Internet Tablets etc.) can now use software which enables them to stream video over the WiMAX network. This solution
is provided by PocketCaster™ software from ComVu®. PocketCaster also provides GPS mapping enhancing its utility for
people on the move.
A live demo of the software was available at the CES at Las Vegas in Jan 2008. The software is likely
to find widespread application with the launch of mobile WiMAX networks such as XOHM by Sprint Nextel and that by Clearwire
in 2008. A number of WiMAX enabled devices are being announced for interface to the WiMAX
networks. These include the ultra low power UMPCs based on Intel’s “Menlow” chip family.
The PocketCaster
can be used in multiple ways including streaming ( Unicasting) of stored or live video and including its delivery to Web 2.0
enabled devices. While it has been available to operate via existing 3G or WiFi networks( by using a range of handsets such
as Nokia N73,N80,E65 etc) the extension to WiMAX is an important development.
An applications oriented book on the Mobile WiMAX technologies and its deployment.
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Mobile World Congress
Mobile World Congress, Barcelona, Feb 2008
The WiMAX Forum has made public the progress on certification of Mobile WiMAX wave 2 devices. There is great interest
in the wave 2 devices which involve the use of multiple antennas or advanced antenna systems (AAS). Use of multiple antennas
makes the reception much more robust in non line of sight conditions(NLOS). In line of sight conditions upto 80% higher speeds
can be achieved using 2x2 MIMO. This has led to the industry players focusing on Mobile WiMAX wave 2 devices for their network
design almost exclusively.
While the wave 2 compliant chipsets and CPEs ( such as PC cards, USB modems etc.) have been
available for over a year now, the WiMAX forum is now set to give its stamp to such products. As per information provided
by the forum over 28 products had been received by them for testing and should be released as certified products by 2Q of
2008.
With the WiMAX forum having established certification labls in Taiwan and India in addition to those in the United
States and Europe, the certification and growth of networks is set to accelerate in 2008.
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