Intel to develop chips for 802.16a 'wireless backbone'

By Steve Malone

Posted on 9 Jul 2003 at 16:18

Intel says it plans to enter the IEEE 802.16a market with a range of new chips aimed at exploiting the expected demand for reliable point to point wireless data transfers. The company is to work with Israeli broadband wireless access developer Alvarionto develop the silicon to work with its range of wireless offerings.

802.16a is the so-called standard for Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks (WMAN) that links together wireless hotspots. Networks based on the 802.16a standard have a theoretical range of up to 30 miles with transfer speeds of up to 70 Mbit/sec across line-of-sight towers. The technology is seen as powering a wireless backbone and as such is likely to develop as a competitor to DSL, T1 and cable networks - but without the need to lay cables. Users will connect via their standard 802.11 WiFi equipment that will then be transmitted via a 802.16a 'hub'.

Intel claims that 802.16a products will provide wireless broadband to businesses with guaranteed levels of service, and to homes for broadband applications.

The Intel/Alavarion products will seek to be WiMax certified. Wimax being the industry body dedicated to making sure that 802.16 products are truly interoperable.