IEEE 802.16e Mobile WirelessMAN (R) Standard is Official
Final Approval Marks Milestone for Broadband Wireless Industry
standards.ieee.org
Contact:
Roger B. Marks, Chair, IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access
+1 303 497 7837, r.b.marks@ieee.org
or
Brian Kiernan, Chair, IEEE 802.16e Task Group
+1 610 878 5637, brian.kiernan@interdigital.com
or
Karen McCabe, IEEE Senior Marketing Manager
+1 732 562 3824, k.mccabe@ieee.org
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: 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 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. |
