Despite the country’s current financial uncertainty, the WiMax Forum expects about 100 carriers to launch 4G service this year using WiMax technology.

The forum said service providers around the world currently offer WiMax on networks that cover about 430 million people, and that number should hit 800 million by the end of 2010. While the current economic climate will cause some companies to scale back the rate of deployment, most of the heavy investments in WiMax already have been made.

To read this InformationWeek report in full, see:
www.informationweek.com/news/mobility/wifiwimax/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=215800329

WiMAX Forum® Projects Over 800 Million People to Have Access to Next-Generation WiMAX Networks by 2010 [news release]
Now nearly 460 WiMAX deployments in 135 countries First mobile 3.5GHz products receive WiMAX Forum certification

The WiMAX Forum® announced today that WiMAX Service Providers now offer networks covering 430 million people, or POPS, globally and are on a path to nearly double to 800 million people by end of 2010. In addition, global WiMAX network deployments are approaching 460 in more than 135 countries for fixed, portable, and mobile networks. The WiMAX Forum also met key milestones with the first Mobile WiMAX™ 3.5GHz products receiving the WiMAX Forum Certified™ seal of approval.

“WiMAX coverage is here now and is the catalyst in the global marketplace to deliver 4G broadband Internet access to countries that don’t want to wait,” said Ron Resnick, president and chairman of the WiMAX Forum. “These new deployment numbers reveal the mobile Internet WiMAX ecosystem has achieved strong growth and will continue to satisfy the market demand to deliver high-speed broadband services in 2009. Certified products in the 3.5 GHz band will now give more operators access to the equipment and devices needed to deliver mobile broadband services.”

With more than 430 million POPS already covered by WiMAX services, and new spectrum licenses anticipated to be allocated in countries such as Brazil and India, WiMAX Forum expects to see accelerated growth of WiMAX’s global footprint in 2009. And, the ecosystem can expect to see continued subscriber growth as consumers and enterprises recognize the availability of WiMAX as a high-speed low-cost alternative to other Internet technologies.

During a teleconference today, Intel highlighted the WiMAX Forum findings, as well as additional global WiMAX news and momentum.

“After several years in development, 2008 was the year that WiMAX became a global reality,” said Sean Maloney, executive vice president, Intel. “In both emerging markets and mature countries, companies and governments are deploying 4G WiMAX networks to help bridge the digital divide and bring affordable, super-fast mobile broadband to their citizens. As countries look to accelerate broadband in 2009 to address economic recovery, WiMAX is ready – it’s the right technology at the right time. There is no need to wait - WiMAX is a reality today.”

WiMAX Forum Certifies First 3.5 GHz Products
Signaling continued WiMAX momentum, the WiMAX Forum today announced that Samsung and ZTE Corporation received the WiMAX Forum Certified seal of approval for products for the 3.5 GHz spectrum band. This milestone also marks the first of many certified products to come out of the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) lab in Korea, one of six global WiMAX Forum Designated Certifcation Laboratories (WFDCL).

Samsung’s 3.5GHz base station, the U-RAS Flexible, is a new addition to Samsung’s WiMAX Forum Certified products in 2.3GHz and 2.5GHz bands. This base station is now being deployed for Lithuania’s first WiMAX commercial service. U-RAS Flexible is separated into two parts, including the digital unit and remote radio head. The optic interface between digital unit and remote radio head minimizes cable loss. Its powerful RF output effectively covers macro network areas. It adopts Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) technology and is ready for Beamforming, ensuring consistent quality service for years to come.

ZTE’s 9100+R9100 base stations also achieved certification. These add a new frequency band to ZTE’s resume, which already includes WiMAX Forum Certified products in the 2.6 GHz and 2.3 GHz bands. ZTE B9100+R9100 are distributed base station systems developed on MicroTCA hardware platform equipped with features such as easy upgrade path, compact design, and low total cost of ownership (TCO). It supports advanced MIMO technology, which enhances the signal transmission quality of single base station. ZTE’s most recent products were certified at the Taiwan WFDCL Bureau Veritas ADT.

More than 50 Mobile WiMAX Certified products achieved certification in 2008. Currently, more than 35 WiMAX Forum member companies manufacture WiMAX base stations, 30 companies provide PC Cards, USB modems, MIDs, and other personal devices, 25 companies produce chipsets and reference designs, and six of the top seven global device manufacturers develop WiMAX products. The WiMAX Forum estimates that by 2011 there will be more than 1,000 Mobile WiMAX Forum Certified™ products found throughout the world.

WiMAX Ecosystem Momentum Showcased During Mobile World Congress
To learn more about further WiMAX industry momentum, stop by the WiMAX Ecosystem Pavilion, Mobile Internet Evolved, Hall 8, Booth B109 at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, to experience first hand the latest industry advancements and new WiMAX devices. Inside the pavilion there will be large video monitors featuring live WiMAX feeds from networks around the world. Visitors can also learn about WiMAX worldwide deployments, services, equipment and devices.

About WiMAX Forum®
The WiMAX Forum® is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization formed to certify and promote the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products based upon the harmonized IEEE 802.16e/ETSI HiperMAN standard. A WiMAX Forum goal is to accelerate the introduction of these systems into the marketplace.

WiMAX Forum Certified products are interoperable and support broadband fixed, nomadic, portable and mobile services. Along these lines, the WiMAX Forum works closely with service providers and regulators to ensure that WiMAX Forum Certified systems meet customer and government requirements. Through the WiMAX Forum Congress Events Series of global trade shows and events, the WiMAX Forum is committed to furthering education, training and collaboration to expand the reach of the WiMAX ecosystem. For more information, visit the trade show link at www.wimaxforum.org.

“WiMAX Forum,” the WiMAX Forum logo and the WiMAX Forum Certified logo are registered trademarks of the WiMAX Forum. “WiMAX,” “Mobile WiMAX,” “Fixed WiMAX,” “WiMAX Certified,” and “WiMAX Forum Certified” are trademarks of the WiMAX Forum. Third-party trademarks contained in this document are the property of their respective owners.

This WiMax Forum news release was sourced from:
wimaxforum.org/node/644