Intel Corporation and Proxim Corporation today announced a collaboration to develop and deliver WiMAX solutions for fixed and portable broadband wireless access. Both companies are founding members of the WiMAX Forum.
In an interview with XCHANGE, Lynn Lucas, director of product marketing for Proxim, told XCHANGE the companies will co-develop a reference architecture for base and substations for 802.16a revision d for fixed services. The two will also be collaborating on shaping the 802.16e standard, which has not been ratified by the IEEE but specifies the mobility aspects of the WiMAX protocol.
The reference architecture combined with Intel silicon will be available to OEMs for incorporation into standards-based broadband interoperable wireless solutions.
Intel announced its intentions to deliver 802.16a silicon last summer. Availability will be in early to mid-2005. It also previously announced development agreements with Alvarion and Alcatel.
Proxim plans to deliver its fixed WiMAX-certified broadband wireless solution in early 2005, and portable WiMAX-certified solutions in late 2005.
Shipment of any WiMAX Forum Certified product is dependent on the start of interoperability and certification testing, which is currently scheduled to begin in late 2004. WiMAX compliant product for the 2.5GHz, 3.5Gz and 5.8GHz spectrum is expected to be available in early to mid-2005.
