Mobile Wimax standardized as 802.16e-2005

The IEEE has finally approved a mobile WiMax standard. And it would now be referred to as 802.16e-2005. This approval was long time pending ever since the 802.16e spec was finalized two months ago. However, the formal announcement was essential to bring the advent of mobile broadband a significant step closer.

With the standard approved, Mobile Wimax trials and certification testing are expected to start in the first quarter of 2006. These would be undertaken by the Wimax Forum and products are expected to roll out sometime during the next year itself. Services making use of this new standard should be popular in the market by the 2007.

Roger Marks, working group chairperson said in a statement about this latest news event: “We projected completion in about 18 months. Actual development took about twice that long. Though we all would have preferred to stick closer to schedule, the reality is that the working group changed dramatically during those years.”

He added: “I am proud of the fact that we addressed all of the resulting needs, continuing to harmonize and build consensus to ensure a result with broad support and broad applicability.” However, he also cautioned that just the standardization of the protocols would not mean that the technology would become popular and accepted by the consumer. A large effort would be required by the companies to make it popular and accessible.