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WiMAX Forum Forecasts Over 900 Certified Products by 2011
A survey of equipment manufacturers suggests significant demand for Mobile WiMAX products.
The WiMAX Forum estimates that 100 products (base stations or subscriber devices) will achieve the WiMAX Forum Certified mark during 2008. Thirty-two products have achieved the certification in the last two years and no products have been certified in the first two months of 2008. The group further estimates that more than 900 products will have been certified by 2011.
Core to the trade association's existence is its certification program. Equipment vendors must demonstrate that their base stations or subscriber devices conform to the technical requirements of the air protocol and radio. Interoperability of multiple devices on a single base station is also required to achieve the WiMAX Forum Certified mark. The testing is accomplished through a series of test procedures performed by an approved testing lab.
Currently certified products are based on the 802.16-2004 standard for fixed wireless access and operate in the 3.5 GHz frequency band. Only five products passed certification requirements during 2007, which makes 100 approvals seem like a monumental feat. The first WiMAX Forum Certified products for Mobile WiMAX (based on 802.16e-2005) are expected by June in both the 2.3 and 2.5 GHz frequency bands.
My research found that 49 companies have announced more than 120 Mobile WiMAX devices. This figure does not include the base stations necessary to connect with Mobile WiMAX devices. The 2.3 and 2.5 GHz bands are twice as popular as the 3.5 GHz band for device announcements that specify frequency support.
Frequent surveys of equipment vendor plans are taken by WiMAX Forum. The surveys ask companies to estimate the number of products to be submitted in the coming years. The results, which are kept confidential, allow for certification profile planning based on market demand.
By Jeff Orr
ORR Technology LLC
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