By: MarkJ - 20 October, 2007 (8:42 AM)
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has approved
WiMAX broadband wireless technology for inclusion into its IMT-2000 set of standards. 3G is also a key part of the IMT-2000 and as a result we're likely to see
WiMAX and 3G working more closely together in the future:
This decision is of global importance to operators who look to ITU to endorse technologies before they invest in new infrastructure. The decision to approve the
WiMAX Forum's version of IEEE Standard 802.16 as an IMT-2000 technology significantly escalates opportunities for global deployment, especially within the 2.5-2.69 GHz band, to deliver Mobile Internet to satisfy both rural and urban market demand.
"This is a very special and unique milestone for WiMAX technology," said Ron Resnick, president of the
WiMAX Forum. "
This is the first time that a new air interface has been added to the IMT-2000 set of standards since the original technologies were selected nearly a decade ago. WiMAX technology currently has the potential to reach 2.7 billion people. And today's announcement expands the reach to a significantly larger global population."
Originally created to harmonize 3G mobile systems and to increase opportunities for worldwide interoperability, the IMT-2000 family of standards will now support four different access technologies, including OFDMA (includes
WiMAX), FDMA, TDMA and CDMA.
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