Intel released its first WiMAX chip. Previously codenamed "Rosedale," the Intel PRO/Wireless 5116 broadband interface device is based on the IEEE 802.16-2004 standard and optimized for self-installed WiMAX modems and residential gateways. The chip features a programmable architecture for equipment manufacturers to add their unique applications on top of the standards-based Intel solution. The chip provides a 256 OFDM PHY with support for channel bandwidths up to 10 MHz. It supports adaptive modulation using BPSK, QPSK, QAM16 or QAM64.
Key points of the Intel announcement:
- A number of carriers are working with Intel to trial WiMAX, including AT&T, Altitude Telecom (France), BT, Brasil Telecom, ETB (Colombia), Iberbanda (Spain), Millicom (Argentina), Qwest, Sify (India), Speakeasy (US), Telkom (South Africa), Telmex (Mexico), TowerStream (US), and UHT (Ukraine).
- Alvarion announced a lab demonstration of WiMAX-ready CPE using the Intel PRO/Wireless 5116 broadband interface. Alvarion has now successfully integrated the PRO/Wireless 5116 into its BreezeMAX 3500 CPE, the culmination of a strategic development effort with Intel, which began in mid-2003. Alvarion's BreezeMAX is an OFDM platform with advanced NLOS functionality.
- Aperto Networks, a supplier of broadband wireless access systems, announced its integration of the Intel PRO/Wireless 5116 broadband interface into its WiMAX architecture and consumer customer premises equipment, for the 3.5 GHz, 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz frequency bands.
- Redline Communications announced a family of IEEE 802.16-2004-compliant products based on the Intel PRO/Wireless 5116. The products, which Redline will present for WiMAX certification in July, includes the RedMAX Base Station (AN-100U) interoperates with any WiMAX-certified subscriber unit, including the RedMAX SU-O (outdoor) and RedMAX SU-I (indoor) subscriber units to deliver point-to-multipoint enterprise access and residential/SOHO services. The RedMAX Base Station also delivers point-to-point backhaul services to the RedMAX Backhaul subscriber station.
- Additional equipment manufacturers developing products based on the Intel PRO/Wireless 5116 broadband interface, include Airspan, Axxcelera Broadband Wireless, Gemtek, Huawei, Proxim, Siemens Mobile, SR Telecom and ZTE.
