Motorola Readies WiMAX Networks for 2007 Launch

• Posted: Friday, December 22, 2006
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• Author: pradhana
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• Filed under: WiMax

With 2006 coming to a close, Motorola predicts 2007 will be the year WiMAX will begin entering the mainstream with growing consumer awareness and anticipation, and with an increasing number of commercial launches of mobile WiMAX networks.

"When we look back one year ago and reflect on all that the industry has accomplished, it is truly astounding the pace at which next generation broadband solutions are evolving. WiMAX no longer is just a promise, a potential. Now it's here, it's real, and Motorola is at the forefront of delivering this technology," said Dan Coombes, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Motorola Networks & Enterprise.

With industry wide support, performance, and cost advantages WiMAX is clearly well positioned to play a pivotal role in the evolution of future broadband wireless networks on a global scale. In the span of the last year, IEEE ratified the standard behind Mobile WiMAX 802.16e-2005, and fixed WiMAX Forum certified products have been deployed. Chipset manufacturers have announced or launched silicon that will support mobile WiMAX functionality in devices and customer premises equipment.

"Technology and market acceptance of WiMAX is underway in key pockets of the globe," said Godfrey Chua, analyst at IDC citing his recently released report "Worldwide WiMAX Infrastructure 2006-2011 Forecast". "Growth is being driven by the increased utility of broadband access in general, and with major equipment vendors such as Motorola leading the way and helping to encourage the expansion of the market ecosystem, we expect WiMAX infrastructure spending to be one of the fastest growing within the wireless segment. Spending will be propelled to $3.59 billion by 2011, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 31 percent."

"From the time we announced our intention to go directly to 802.16e and our efforts with Sprint on planned WiMAX activities in June 2005, we -- and the industry -- have made tremendous progress in bringing WiMAX to market and demonstrating how WiMAX can be used to enable rich applications and personal wireless broadband," Coombes continued. "We'll continue our momentum in 2007 with general availability of our portfolio of WiMAX access points, PC cards and customer premises equipment; live, commercial networks with customers; and previews of handheld devices."

Source: ABI Research

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