WiMax prospects pick up as rival MBWA technology stalls

IEEE's decision to suspend progress of the 802.20 broadband wireless protocol could give a lift to WiMax

The IEEE’s decision to suspend its work on the 802.20 Mobile Broadband Wireless Access (MBWA) protocol could give a lift to WiMax, the 802.16 technology that is widely seen as its competitor.

The IEEE recently said it would pause the 802.20 working group that has the backing of Qualcomm, the US cellular communications giant that acquired 802.20 developer Flarion Technologies in January. This followed questions of whether participants had disclosed their affiliations in a proper manner.

The decision could aid WiMax, which Intel plans to use in future laptop chipsets to support speeds and distances beyond Wi-Fi.

Carlton O’Neal, vice-president of marketing at WiMax vendor Alvarion, argued that 802.20 is “a private Qualcomm/Flarion party, which they didn’t want to invite anybody else to”. He added, “I don’t think there’s a conspiracy to knock Qualcomm out of the market.”

Graham Currier of Pipex Wireless, which is building a UK WiMax network, said, “I think this is just housekeeping. WiMax is the standard for wireless broadband.”