WiMax stands for worldwide interoperability for microwave access, a term describing a wireless broadband technology which is derived from the industry led organisation the WiMax Forum and is based on the IEEE 802.16 wireless metropolitan area network (maximum range of 50kms) and HiperMAN standards.

Certified WiMax hardware is available now, but mass WiMax adoption is expected to follow the WiFi model, whereby embedded client hardware, especially in laptops, drove adoption.

The cost and benefit implications is that rolling out WiMax networks is significantly less than today's cellular networks. Another benefit would be the potential for faster uplink and downlink speeds than those available with current 3G mobile phone networks.

Problems include availability of radio spectrum, mast sites and client devices. The important radio spectrum auction, which should make countrywide WiMax frequencies available, will take place before the end of this year. Intel will embed WiMax hardware in variants of its upcoming Centrino 2 platform, but the UK is not the primary market.

WiMax suppliers include Alvarion, AirSpan, Intel and Nortel. Current WiMax trials include: Urban WiMax in London, UK Broadband in the Thames Valley, Freedom4 in Manchester, Milton Keynes and Warwick, and the Mobile WiMax Acceleration Group in Maidstone.

Cheers Mark Bower

Director, NextWave.IT Ltd

www.nextwaveit.biz

enquiry@nextwaveit.biz