Intel pushing ahead with WiMax

jwt

From electronicsnews in Australia

News November 18, 2004
Intel develops ‘last mile’ silicon
By Steven Keeping

Semiconductor vendor Intel says it intends to develop silicon products based on the IEEE 802.16a standard to provide a broadband wireless access alternative to existing “last mile” methods such as cable and digital subscriber lines (DSL). The company is working with Alvarion, a firm that makes last mile broadband wireless access equipment, to deliver low-cost WiMAX-certified equipment.

The IEEE 802.16a standard is a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) technology that connects wireless hotspots—which offer users wireless Internet access via the IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) standard—and other locations such as businesses and homes to the wired Internet backbone. It is expected that networks based on the 802.16a standard will have a range up to 50 km and the ability to transfer data, voice and video at speeds of up to 70 Mbit/s.

The technology offers the possibility of connecting Australia’s smaller communities to the broadband network without the cost of fixed-line infrastructure.

“This starts to change the wireless landscape,” says Sean Casey of Intel communications Group Australia/NZ.

“It can potentially save the cost of upgrading fixed infrastructure to broadband capability. It makes broadband [more] affordable and will help to drive the rollout in the longer term.”

Products based on 802.16a are claimed to provide wireless broadband connectivity to businesses with guaranteed levels of service required for enterprise applications, and to homes for residential broadband applications.

The IEEE 802.16a standard was approved in January of this year. Since then, over 25 leading communications equipment companies have joined the non-profit WiMAX Forum to help promote and certify the compatibility and interoperability of 802.16a equipment.

“We believe that WiMAX will be the catalyst for growth of the broadband wireless access market, similar to the impact WiFi had on the Wireless LAN market,” said Zvi Slonimsky, CEO of Alvarion.

“Without the 802.16a standard, equipment makers have to make everything themselves; including the fundamental silicon, the customer premise equipment, the base station and the network management software. With the standard, equipment makers can innovate in the areas where they excel most, resulting in dramatic industry price/performance gains.”

The reason I mention this article is that Intel in Leixlip is currently using a WiMax product on campus with a view to allowing workers to telecommute!!!!


John

aaronc

jwt wrote:

From

The reason I mention this article is that Intel in Leixlip is currently using a WiMax product on campus with a view to allowing workers to telecommute!!!!

John

Except that the "WiMAX" antennas supplied by Irish Broadband cost > €1000 a pop. Also the power is currently turned down and only allows a 3km range, probably not a lot of benefit to telecommuting if you live that close!

Theoretically all you need to telecommute is a reasonable internet connection. If WiMAX can solve this problem then the World will be a happier place, at least for the bit I participate in.

Aaron

Peace

aaronc wrote:

Except that the "WiMAX" antennas supplied by Irish Broadband cost > €1000 a pop.

I think you'll find with any technology in its infancy and not yet in popular demand every thing costs 1000eurobucks a pop.

Tom Dunne

jwt wrote:

From electronicsnews in Australia
The reason I mention this article is that Intel in Leixlip is currently using a WiMax product on campus with a view to allowing workers to telecommute!!!!

That's not really true, John. It's more a publicity stunt for the local community - "Hey look at us we are providing free broadband for local libraries and schools for three years".

jwt

Ah!

Still its good to see the technology hitting the real world


John

Ciaran500

When they say a range of 50km is it realistic? Do they mean 25km either side of the mast or 50km from mast?