Intel, Alcatel-Lucent Launch Joint WiMAX Interoperability Testing Program

Intel and Alcatel-Lucent have announced a joint end-to-end interoperability testing (IOT) program named WiMAX (News - Alert) Ensure for the Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) Rev-e standard (802.16e-2005).

 

The program aims to accelerate the interoperability for embedded and non-embedded devices and aims to establish common, commercially validated, global profiles for data-centric mobile WiMAX devices.

 

WiMAX Ensure is a step ahead of the joint IOT on chipsets for the 2.5GHz band, officials said. It immediately targets the 3.5 GHz band, where Alcatel-Lucent (News - Alert) is a leading global infrastructure player with seven networks already in commercial service and 14 others in deployment. Officials said that the program would eventually include 2.3GHz devices.

 

Alcatel-Lucent, under its Open Device Program, has encouraged the expansion of the WiMAX Rev-e ecosystem through IOT with any and all device and chipset makers. To date, it has worked with more than 30 such partners at its seven IOT centers worldwide.

 

“The WiMAX Ensure program is designed to bring additional assurance to program participants delivering WiMAX products and services to market,” said Sriram Viswanathan, vice president of Intel Capital (News - Alert) and general manager of the WiMAX Program Office, Intel, in a statement.

 

“Intel looks forward to continued collaboration with Alcatel-Lucent, who has been active in the thriving 3.5GHz band deployments worldwide, and is a key proponent of the open WiMAX devices ecosystem.”

 

Paul Larbey, head of Next-Generation Mobile Access for Alcatel-Lucent, said, “The Seal of Interoperability Acceptance for Commercial Services (SIACS) that Alcatel-Lucent launched last year had immediate traction in a young WiMAX industry hungry for reliable information on devices' performance in real-life, end-to-end settings. Involving of a key industry mover like Intel will bring much greater momentum.”

 

Intel and Alcatel-Lucent are founding members of the Open Patent Alliance (OPA), a body created to stimulate innovation and new entrants in the WiMAX industry via the formation of a WiMAX patent pool.

 

In another recent announcement, Alcatel said it has received the WiMAX Forum (News - Alert) Certified seal of approval for the 3.5GHz band version of its WiMAX Rev-e (802.16-2005 standard) compact base station.