WiMAX Forum® Forecasts 133 Million WiMAX™ Users by 2012

The WiMAX Forum today announced it projects more than 133 million WiMAX users globally by 2012. The forecast is based on the results of an independently commissioned research study to be published in April 2008. Additional data from the study estimates that approximately 70 percent of the forecasted WiMAX users by 2012 will utilize mobile and portable WiMAX devices to access broadband Internet services.

The report, entitled WiMAX Forum Worldwide Subscriber and User Forecasts, examines the progress of WiMAX service providers, equipment vendors, content developers and users in regions around the world. The preliminary results released today at CTIA Wireless in Las Vegas reflect the accelerated growth of the WiMAX ecosystem, the acceptance of WiMAX technology and demand for mobile Internet services across the world.

“WiMAX is here now and is the catalyst in the global marketplace to grow demand for mobile broadband Internet access,” said Ron Resnick, president of the WiMAX Forum. ”This new subscriber and user forecast is a solid proof point of the future growth of the thriving mobile Internet ecosystem and presents reasonable predictions of the positive progress our industry is working to achieve.”

According to the study, a key driver of WiMAX subscriber and user growth will be the ambitious adoption of WiMAX technology in specific regions, including Asia Pacific and the Americas, where WiMAX technology is anticipated to be the leading technology selected to deliver broadband Internet access to a greater geography of these regional populations.

Further signifying the rapid growth of the WiMAX ecosystem, the first Mobile WiMAX™ Certified products are expected to achieve certification in Q2 2008. This milestone will foster additional growth for the more than 260 service providers deploying WiMAX services in 110 countries worldwide. The WiMAX Forum estimates that by 2011 there will be more than 1,000 Mobile WiMAX Forum Certified™ products found throughout the world.

Antenova Announces High Performance WiMAX™ Antennas for Mobile Device Applications

Antenova Ltd., the integrated antenna and RF solutions company, announced the availability of the gigaNOVA® range of high performing WiMAX antennas for embedded mobile device applications. Antenova’s gigaNOVA range WiMAX antennas are ideally suited for WiMAX at 2.3-2.4 GHz and 2.5 –2.69 GHz.

“Antenova is a leader in providing high performance antennas and RF antenna modules for the global wireless communication and consumer electronic device markets,” stated Greg McCray, CEO of Antenova. “With our gigaNOVA range of standard antennas, we are able to offer customers access to the broadest range of standard off-the-shelf antennas for Bluetooth, GPS, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, GSM, ISM900 and now WiMAX applications, which means faster time to market with an already field-proven antenna solution.”

Antenova offers these high performing WiMAX antennas in a range of sizes and surface mount options to provide designers and manufacturers greater flexibility in meeting their design and performance objectives.

Antenova’s internal WiMAX antennas for the 2.3-2.4 GHz and 2.5-2.69 GHz bands are ideally suited for an extensive range of embedded mobile applications, such as mobile handset, PDAs, laptops, ultra mobile PCs (UMPCs), PC cards, digital cameras, media players, portable gaming devices and converged devices such as personal navigation/infotainment products. To complement the wide range of internal WiMAX antennas, Antenova also offers two high performing external WiMAX antennas that are ideal for development kits or for use with home access points.

McCray added, “Antenova is committed to satisfying the global handset, laptop and wireless consumer electronics markets by providing innovative, cost effective and highly efficient antenna products and integrated RF solutions. With our new WiMAX antennas, we are also able to target consumer electronics manufacturers that are looking to introduce mobile broadband-enabled products.”

Wireless Network Planning Specialist ProVision Communications Announces Support for the WiMAX Forum®

ProVision Communications today announced its support for single-standard WiMAX™ technology by becoming a member of the WiMAX Forum, an industry-led non-profit organization committed to promoting and certifying interoperable WiMAX products.

"The WiMAX Forum represents the interests of the whole range of companies involved in developing networks and systems based on the IEEE 802.16 and ETSI HiperMAN standards," said ProVision CEO David Sykes. "Our ProPhecy network planning and optimisation suite has been specifically developed to meet the needs of operators seeking to roll out efficient and competitive WiMAX networks. Membership of the WiMAX Forum is a logical step for us to confirm our commitment to the WiMAX community."

OFDM systems such as WiMAX need a sophisticated approach to network planning and optimisation if operators are to achieve the right balance between the inevitable technical and commercial constraints. The ProPhecy propagation prediction engine is one of the most advanced and accurate wireless network planning tools currently available, offering full 3D planning of non line of sight (NLOS) systems, with GIS database resolutions down to 1m. It is equally capable of modelling both urban environments and less dense rural environments, predicting indoor coverage, and taking account of factors such as foliage.

ProPhecy’s unique optimiser substantially improves return on investment (ROI) for WiMAX operators by reducing their capital investment and operating costs, while at the same time improving the network quality of service (QoS) and maximising the data throughput per user compared with traditional planning methods.

"The WiMAX Forum continues to gain industry support with more than 520 members to-date," said Ron Resnick, president of the WiMAX Forum. "As companies, both large and small, join together to create an ecosystem of interoperability, their products and services are delivering anytime, anywhere broadband access to consumers around the world."

The WiMAX Forum is an industry-led non-profit organization comprising more than 520 companies committed to promoting and certifying interoperable WiMAX products. WiMAX products are designed to deliver wireless broadband services to both residential customers and businesses by creating economies of scale made possible by standards-based, interoperable products and services.

A complete list of current WiMAX Forum members can be found at: http://www.wimaxforum.org/about/Current_Members/ .

Axis Network Technology Announces Support For The Wimax Forum

Axis Network Technology has announced its support for single-standard WiMAX™ technology by becoming a member of the WiMAX Forum, an industry-led non-profit organization committed to promoting and certifying interoperable WiMAX products.

"The IEEE 802.16 and ETSI HiperMAN standards that are promoted by the WiMAX Forum represent the most important market today for Axis’ digital radios," said Simon Mellor, CEO of Axis. "WiMAX Forum certification is an essential requirement for basestations that integrate our radios, and membership of the WiMAX Forum is a logical step to enable us to fully participate in the WiMAX community."

Axis Network Technology is a leading vendor of software reconfigurable digital radios, RF subsystems and IP to OEMs for deployment in WiMAX networks worldwide. Its MIMO 4W and 8W Remote Radio Heads (RRH), and the innovative software that drives them, are already enabling WiMAX services to be delivered in the USA, Asia and Europe, with state-of-the-art power efficiency performance that helps network operators to minimise CAPEX and OPEX.

"The WiMAX Forum continues to gain industry support with more than 520 members to-date," said Ron Resnick, president of the WiMAX Forum. "As companies, both large and small, join together to create an ecosystem of interoperability, their products and services are delivering anytime, anywhere broadband access to consumers around the world."

The WiMAX Forum is an industry-led non-profit organization comprising more than 520 companies committed to promoting and certifying interoperable WiMAX products. WiMAX products are designed to deliver wireless broadband services to both residential customers and businesses by creating economies of scale made possible by standards-based, interoperable products and services.

A complete list of current WiMAX Forum members can be found at: http://www.wimaxforum.org/about/Current_Members/ .