First true 4G standard approved with 802.16m
IEEE ratifies basis of WiMAX2, promising 300Mbps download speeds, but LTE-Advanced looms
Published: 4 April, 2011
The wireless industry came a step closer to true 4G with the approval of the new WiMAX standard, 802.16m. Like the forthcoming LTE-Advanced, this has been accepted by the ITU as an official technology for IMT-Advanced, or 'true 4G'. Although LTE, WiMAX and even HSPA+ are marketed as 4G systems, the ITU requirements will only be fulfilled by the new generation of networks - and possibly not by them, at least in real world conditions.
The IEEE has ratified 802.16m, which will be the basis of WiMAX2. It is backwards compatible with the current 802.16e/Mobile WiMAX, but can achieve peak download speeds of over 300Mbps. Its impact on the market will depend partly on how great a headstart it can maintain over LTE-Advanced, expected to be approved this year, and whether its new capabilities can keep key WiMAX operators like Clearwire and UQ Communications loyal.
Some vendors have already experimented with pre-standard versions of 16m and Samsung demonstrated a network at the Ceatac show in Tokyo last year, achieving download rates of 330Mbps. The standard is designed to provide sustainable speeds of 100Mbps to end users when mobile, as specified by ITU definitions, using MIMO antenna arrays, wide channels and other techniques.
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