Intel Goes After 'Last Mile' with 802.16a Silicon
Online staff -- 7/9/2003
Electronic News
Intel Corp. today announced plans to develop a silicon product based on the IEEE 802.16a standard as a broadband wireless access alternative to existing "last mile" methods such as cable and DSL.
Intel is working with wireless player Alvarion Ltd. for the WiMAX-certified equipment based on its 802.16a silicon.
IEEE's 802.16a standard is a wireless metropolitan area network technology that connects wireless hotspots and home/business locations to the wired Internet backbone. Intel said it expects that networks based on 802.16a will have a range up to 30 miles and the ability to transfer data, voice and video at speeds of up to 70Mbits/sec.
"Intel is committed to enabling computing and communications anytime, anywhere over any device, and we see WiMAX as a critical technology for making that vision a reality," said Sean Maloney, executive VP and GM of Intel's communications group, in a statement. "Our silicon products for WiMAX equipment will complement existing Intel wireless building blocks including Intel Centrino mobile technology for wireless notebooks, Intel PRO/Wireless network connections, and Intel IXP4XX network processors for wireless infrastructure equipment."
The IEEE 802.16a standard was approved in January and has since seen 25 communications equipment companies join the non-profit WiMAX forum to promote and certify the compatibility of 802.16a equipment.
"We believe that WiMAX will be the catalyst for growth of the broadband wireless access market, similar to the impact Wi-Fi had on the wireless LAN market," said Zvi Slonimsky, CEO of Alvarion, in a statement. "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." |
