Intel and Nokia announced this week that they are partnering to accelerate the development, adoption, and deployment of WiMAX broadband wireless technology. Areas of collaboration include “mobile clients, network infrastructure, industry-enabling efforts, and market development.”

WiMAX (worldwide interoperability for microwave access, IEEE 802.16-2004) is a wireless networking technology designed to provide a last-mile broadband Internet transport in situations where wired technologies such as DSL and cable are either impractical or not available. WiMAX can operate over a range of “tens of kilometers,” according to the WiMAX forum, and does not require line-of-sight.

Intel and Nokia say they will work together on technical issues, such as power, performance, and network architectures, as well as on marketing issues. They will also help finalize the IEEE 802.16e standard as soon as later this year, they say.

Nokia senior vice president and chief strategy officer Tero Ojanpera said, “Nokia's end-to-end multiradio strategy covers many wireless technologies optimized for uses from local connectivity and fast data transport to broadcasting technologies and full mobility of voice and data. WiMAX will be an important technology complementing 3GPP and 3GPP2 technologies. It will also create new opportunities for the consumer and enterprise markets.”

Sean Maloney, executive vice president and general manager of Intel's Mobility Group, added, “Broadband technologies — of all types — represent an enormous opportunity for businesses and individuals around the world. Even though we and the industry as a whole are at the early stages of discovery and development, the industry momentum is remarkable. To have innovators like Nokia working to bring WiMAX and other broadband wireless technologies to the masses is very encouraging.”

Intel began shipping its first WiMAX chip last month, as did Fujitsu. WiMAX technology is expected to reach mobile devices very soon, according to ABI.

 
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