Intel is sampling a chip for wireless broadband modems that it hopes will greatly increase the number of global households with access to high-speed Internet service. The “Rosedale” SoC supports WiMAX, an emerging broadband wireless standard recently ratified by the IEEE. Rosedale targets inexpensive customer premises equipment (CPEs).

WiMAX, or IEEE 802.16-2004 (previously known as IEEE 802.16REVd), is a newly ratified standard based on a revision of the 802.16 standard for high-speed wireless metropolitan area networks (MANs). It supports DSL-like broadband speeds over long-distance wireless links.

Vendor compliance with the WiMAX standard will be overseen by the WiMAX Forum, an industry group chartered to test and certify interoperability among WiMAX products. The Forum is expected to hold initial interoperability testing and certification programs in 2005.

According to Intel, Rosedale is a highly integrated SoC that will enable developers to quickly design low-chip-count WiMAX access devices that can be produced inexpensively. The chip will include the 802.16-2004 MAC and OFDM PHY, an integrated 10/100 MAC, inline security processing, and a TDM controller interface enabling broadband Internet streaming of data and voice, the company says.

“High-speed DSL and cable broadband access are only available to a fraction of computer users globally. WiMAX will make it possible to build cost-effective, high-speed wireless connections to homes and businesses, be they in urban or rural environments,” said Scott Richardson, general manager of Intel's Broadband Wireless Group.

 
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