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Progress Report on LTE and Next Generation WiMAX Standards
As mobile WiMAX networks (802.16e) are deployed and enjoy first mover advantage, work continues on development of next generation WiMAX (802.16m) and LTE standards.
The Long Term Evolution (LTE) and next generation WiMAX IEEE 802.16m advanced
air interface standards have recently made good progress. But a key
difference is that the initial release of LTE (scheduled for March 2009) will be
a first generation standard, while WiMAX is already mature with an upgrade path
to full 4G status on the standards track. Let's review these efforts.
The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) LTE standard is said to be almost
complete and is planned to be included in 3GPP's Release 8 set of standards in
March 2009. However, the companion 3GPP System Architecture Evolution (SAE)
core network specification has been delayed. Note that both of these
standards are initial releases. More information please see:
3GPP Pins Down LTE
Specs.
At its November meeting, IEEE 802.16 Task Group m (TGm) continued its work on
the development of the WiMAX 802.16m standard. The objective is to amend
the IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN-OFDMA specification to meet IMT-Advanced
requirements, while offering continuing support for legacy WirelessMAN-OFDMA
equipment. This will provide an UPGRADE path for existing mobile WiMAX
networks based on IEEE 802.16e to a 4G-like network.
A new version of the draft System Description Document (SDD) was authorized by
TGm. A Call for Comments and Contributions will be issued for review of
the SDD draft, and Rapporteur Groups were established to address Relay and
Femtocell/Self-organization. Change requests to the System Requirements
Document (SRD) and Evaluation Methodology Document (EMD) were agreed. More
information on IEEE 802.16m, including the Nov 08 meeting report, can be
referenced
here.
Both LTE and WiMAX are all IP networks. But there is a very important
difference. In contrast to the forthcoming first generation LTE, there
have already been two releases of WiMAX profiles: the IEEE 802.16d fixed WiMAX
standard released in 2004, and the IEEE 802.16e mobile WiMAX standard released
in 2005 (which can be used either for mobile or fixed access). Both of
those standards have been implemented and there are compliant networks and
devices/ products available.
Global WiMAX deployments have been increasing in 2008 and will continue to
advance in 2009. As we have earlier opined, we don't think there will be
widescale LTE deployments till the second half of 2010 at the earliest.
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