Nortel Networks Ltd. announced its market strategy for WiMAX product development, saying it has formed alliances with Intel Corp. for mobile WiMAX and Airspan Networks Inc. for fixed WiMAX development.
Nortel said these new alliances will complement WiMAX work already under way with LG Electronics Co. Ltd., and products will be designed to allow carriers, cable providers and Internet service providers to deliver broadband connectivity to consumer and enterprise users by leveraging existing networks and ‘last-mile’ wireless links.
“There is no denying the attraction of having automated broadband connectivity whenever and wherever you power up your laptop,” said Phil Marshall, vice president of Wireless Mobile Technologies at Yankee Group. “Promising new technologies often fail, however, for lack of a viable business model or a weak value chain. Support of major networking companies like Nortel is a strong and positive sign that WiMAX intends to compete vigorously for its place in the industry.”
Nortel said it will work with Airspan Networks to market and evolve WiMAX solutions in the higher frequency bands for implementations that do not require full mobility and can eliminate the need for wired T1/E1 or DSL circuits for wireless backhaul, creating a simpler path to profitability for service providers.
“We are combining Nortel’s wireless and mesh technology leadership and ability to execute large network buildouts with Airspan’s market-proven WiMAX portfolio to provide high-speed access for people living in areas where access via cable or DSL may not be available,” said Mark Whitton, vice president and general manager of WiMAX and wireless mesh networks at Nortel. “Beyond that, Nortel will build on its key intellectual property and standards contributions in OFDM, MIMO, and wireless mesh networking to deliver mobile WiMAX products in time for trials in mid-2006. The key to an operator’s success in WiMAX will be the real-world implementation of networks, an area where Nortel has vast experience and the resources to back it up.”
Nortel also said it will continue developing WiMAX/WiBro solutions based on the 802.16e standard though its LG-Nortel joint venture and expects its fixed WiMAX solutions to be commercially available in early 2006, while its WiBro solutions are scheduled for commercial availability following field trials in Asia later this year, with additional mobile WiMAX solutions set to be commercially available after North American trials in 2006.
Traditional large wireless infrastructure vendors, as well as small startups, are promoting their WiMAX plans as industry works toward a WiMAX standard. Motorola Inc. is skipping a fixed WiMAX solution in favor of a mobile offering. Like Nortel, Nokia Corp. also is working with Intel on WiMAX infrastructure. And Lucent Technologies Inc. early this year partnered with Alvarion to offer a WiMAX solution.
