PISCATAWAY, N.J., 7 Dec 2005 The IEEE today
announced the approval of IEEE
802.16e(TM), the mobile WirelessMAN(R)standard that
will facilitate the global development of mobile broadband
wireless access (BWA) systems. The standard amends
and extends the IEEE 802.16(TM) WirelessMAN standard,
which addressed Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks
for broadband wireless access but previously supported
only fixed (stationary) terminals. The amended standard
specifies a system for combined fixed and mobile BWA
supporting subscriber stations moving at vehicular
speeds in licensed bands under 6
GHz.
“The IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN standard continues
its evolution as a platform upon which the broadband
wireless industry can build high-performance, cost-effective
fixed, and now mobile, broadband access systems,”
said Roger B. Marks, Chair of the IEEE 802.16 Working
Group on Broadband Wireless Access. “The Working
Group’s open consensus process attracted the
dedicated participation of hundreds of technical experts
from the world's leading
service providers, system vendors, and semiconductor
suppliers. The foundation for a global industry is
now in place.”
The 802.16e standards development project, begun
in late 2002, completed its final draft in October
2005. The work was iterated through twelve drafts
based on thousands of comments and hundreds of contributed
documents.
"It was a long and sometimes difficult road,
but the industry ultimately came together and reached
its goal,” said Brian Kiernan, Chair of the IEEE
802.16e Task Group. "The IEEE 802.16e standard
gives service operators the ability to provide a wide
range of new and revolutionary high-speed, mobile
wireless applications and services that will greatly
improve people’s way of life.”
"The WiMAX Forum commends IEEE 802.16 for its
exceptional work in delivering a global standard that
will redefine mobile broadband," said Ron Resnick,
president of the WiMAX Forum. "Today marks the
official inauguration of the IEEE 802.16e standard,
and the WiMAX Forum and its members now can move forward
with confidence as we collaborate to ensure
that WiMAX Forum Certified products for 802.16e-based
mobile broadband arrive by late next year or early
2007. As an organization, we have already achieved
accelerated progress by developing system profiles
based on the 802.16e specification and identifying
conformance test tools and methods that will be essential
for the expanding the certification process to
include mobile as well as fixed systems."
About the IEEE 802.16 Working Group
The IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless
Access has completed twelve standards projects since
2001 toward the development and evolution of the IEEE
802.16 WirelessMAN® Standard for Wireless Metropolitan
Area Networks. The Working Group currently has 309
individual members from 16 countries and a portfolio
of four active projects. For details, see http://
wirelessman.org.
About the IEEE Standards Association The IEEE Standards Association, a globally recognized
standards-setting body, develops consensus standards
through an open process that brings diverse parts
of an industry together. These standards set specifications
and procedures based on current scientific consensus.
The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of more than 870 completed
standards and more than 400 standards in development.
For information on IEEE-SA see: http://standards.ieee.org/.
About the IEEE The IEEE has more than 375,000 members in approximately
150 countries. Through its members, the organization
is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace,
computers and telecommunications to biomedicine, electric
power and consumer electronics. The IEEE produces
nearly 30 percent of the world's literature in the
electrical and electronics engineering, computing
and control technology fields. This nonprofit organization
also sponsors or cosponsors more than 300 technical
conferences each year. Additional information about
the IEEE can be found at http://www.ieee.org.
IEEE Std 802.16, IEEE Std 802.16e,
and WirelessMAN are trademarks of the IEEE. All other
names or product names are the trademarks, service
marks or registered trademarks of their respective
holders.
