Marconi is the latest big name to join the Wimax Forum,
which is expected to certify its first long-range wireless
broadband products next year.
Marconi joins Intel, Proxim, Nokia, Lucent, Nortel, Cisco, Siemens
and Alcatel in the forum, which is developing wireless equipment
that can carry data over a theoretical maximum distance of 50km at
speeds of up to 75mbps.
Wimax chips for customer premises equipment have been promised by
Intel, with the first Wimax connectivity products expected in
Europe next year.
Wimax should make it possible for providers to build
cost-effective, high-speed wireless networks for businesses and
remote workers in urban or rural environments.
As well as being relatively easy to self-install, the technology
could help to fill a broadband connectivity gap in areas without a
DSL or cable broadband link.
"It is exciting to see a company like Marconi bringing its wireless
heritage and experience to the Wimax Forum," said forum president
Ron Resnick.
"With companies like Marconi, the Wimax Forum is able to represent
all areas of the wireless industry in bringing standards-based
broadband wireless access to the world."
Alex Marshall, Marconi's vice-president of product marketing, said,
"The Wimax Forum's goal to produce interoperability profiles from
the standard will do much to promote the use of broadband wireless
access. It will not only make the technology much more accessible
for service providers and consumers, but also make the concept of a
universally available broadband network achievable."
Wimax could plug gap in broadband coverage
Wimax gives broadband service providers a cut-price way to offer
a service to customers who would not normally have access to
broadband.
Many rural areas are not covered by broadband, and Wimax is set
to plug the gaps. In addition, as it only uses cheap customer
premises equipment, the technology may also be a good way for
alternative providers to build market share in built-up areas.
Analyst firm Yankee Group said that although the use of DSL and
cable will continue to grow while Wimax products await
certification, there will still be an under-served portion of the
market of up to 20%.
Yankee analyst Lindsay Schroth said, "Providers have found a
sweet spot for broadband wireless access in the rural markets and
as a land-line rental replacement service in other areas, where the
revenue justifies equipment costs - which are lower with Wimax."
Growth in Wimax connectivity is expected to take off once PCs are
embedded with Wimax chips in about 2007.