Siemens AG raised Flash-OFDM technology to a prime spot on the wireless radar with its decision to adopt it as an important part of its offering. Flarion Technologies Inc. is the proprietor of Flash-OFDM.
This decision sets the stage for a potential showdown with CDMA in Europe on the 450 MHz frequency band. CDMA 450 MHz has enjoyed momentum during the past year, especially in the emerging markets on the continent.
The adoption of Flash-OFDM by a major telecom player like Siemens also raises the stakes for the technology for other players because the technology’s strengths in the area of Internet Protocol has given it traction for homeland security and public-safety applications. Motorola Inc. is partnering with Flarion for those applications.
Nextel Communications Inc. has seized headlines because it still is considering the protocol as part of its next-generation roadmap. In Europe, carriers such as Vodafone Group plc and Deutsche Telecom are trialing Flash-OFDM.
Siemens said it will offer Flash-OFDM by the second quarter of next year. “Together with WiMax … for nomadic wireless services and HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) for demanding premium users, Flash-OFDMR is an outstanding complement to our portfolio of broadband solutions,” said Christoph Caselitz, president of the mobile networks division at Siemens.
