With the prediction that 2007 will be the year WiMAX will begin entering the mainstream, Motorola issued a year-end update on its wi4 WiMAX solutions. The company cited several milestones during 2006. These include:
- Announced agreements with Sprint Nextel and Clearwire in the US, Wateen Telecom in Pakistan and Agni Systems, Ltd in Bangladesh for WiMAX systems. Clearwire and Sprint Nextel are the two largest holders of 2.5GHz spectrum in the U.S.
- Increased to more than 20 the number of 802.16e mobile WiMAX trials underway around the world.
- Began work on the build out of the new 3.5GHz nationwide wireless
broadband voice and data network for Wateen Telecom, part of Warid Telecom International. Phase 1 rollout, covering major cities in Pakistan, is near completion and recently end-to-end voice and data
services were successfully tested on the Wateen Telecom WiMAX/IMS network. - Announced its WiMAX chipset design effort, launched its first and second generation WiMAX access points, unveiled its CPE portfolio, and demonstrated interoperability with PC cards using third-party chipsets as well as mobile WiMAX handoffs using its WAP400 series access points.
- For 2007, Motorola expects general availability of its portfolio of WiMAX access points, PC cards and customer premises equipment; live, commercial networks with customers; and previews of handheld devices.
"When we look back one year ago and reflect on all that the industry has accomplished, it is truly astounding the pace at which next generation broadband solutions are evolving. WiMAX no longer is just a promise, a potential. Now it's here, it's real, and Motorola is at the forefront of delivering this technology," said Dan Coombes, senior vice president and chief technology officer, Motorola Networks & Enterprise.
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