Nortel Teams Up With Intel And Airspan For WiMAX

Nortel have plans to offer fixed and mobile WiMAX products based on the latest industry standards, and to work with WiMAX leaders Intel and Airspan Networks in bringing these products to market.

Nortel's WiMAX products will be designed to allow wireless and wireline carriers, cable providers, media companies and other ISPs to deliver broadband connectivity to consumer and enterprise users by leveraging existing networks and 'last mile' wireless links. They will also complement and extend the reach of existing 3G cellular networks.

Fixed WiMAX (IEEE 802.16-2004) is anticipated to operate in the 3.5GHz and 5.8GHz bands of spectrum and to deliver end-user data rates greater than 1 Mbps, comparable to many North American cable broadband and DSL connections. Mobile WiMAX (IEEE 802.16e) will initially operate in the 2.5GHz band and provide even higher speeds and the added convenience of 'anytime, anywhere' access.

Nortel will work with Airspan Networks to market and evolve WiMAX solutions in the higher frequency bands for implementations that do not require full mobility. These solutions will also be used to eliminate the need for expensive wired T1/E1 or DSL circuits for wireless backhaul, creating a simpler path to profitability for service providers.

Nortel's optical backhaul technology, data networking solutions, and full suite of wireless services will be integrated with Airspan's WiMAX base transceiver stations (BTS) and subscriber terminals (ST).

Nortel will work in the development of WiMAX/WiBro solutions based on the 802.16e standard though the LG-Nortel joint venture. Nortel's fixed WiMAX solutions are expected to be commercially available in Q1 2006. Nortel's WiBro solutions are scheduled for commercial availability following the 2005 field trial deployment in Asia with the LG-Nortel joint venture, with additional mobile WiMAX solutions set to be commercially available following the 2006 trials in North America.

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