July 9, 2003 – Intel Corporation today announced its intention to develop silicon product based on the IEEE 802.16a* standard that will provide a broadband wireless access alternative to existing “last mile” methods such as cable and digital subscriber lines (DSL). Intel is working with Alvarion, a leader in last mile broadband wireless access equipment, to deliver low-cost WiMAX-Certified equipment based on Intel® 802.16a silicon.

The IEEE 802.16a standard is a wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN) technology that connects wireless hotspots, which offer users wireless Internet access via the IEEE 802.11 or Wi-Fi standard, and other locations such as businesses and homes to the wired Internet backbone. It is expected that networks based on the 802.16a standard will have a range up to 30 miles and the ability to transfer data, voice and video at speeds of up to 70 Megabits-per-second (Mbps).

“Intel is committed to enabling computing and communications anytime, anywhere over any device, and we see WiMAX as a critical technology for making that vision a reality,” said Sean Maloney, executive vice president and general manager, Intel Communications Group. “Our silicon products for WiMAX equipment will complement existing Intel wireless building blocks including Intel® Centrino™ mobile technology for wireless notebooks, Intel® PRO/Wireless network connections, and Intel® IXP4XX network processors for wireless infrastructure equipment.”

Products based on 802.16a can provide wireless broadband connectivity to businesses with guaranteed levels of service required for enterprise applications, and to homes for residential broadband applications. These products will also enable service providers to offer voice and data services.

The IEEE 802.16a standard was approved in January of this year. Since then, over 25 leading communications equipment companies have joined the non-profit WiMAX Forum to help promote and certify the compatibility and interoperability of 802.16a equipment.

“We believe that WiMAX will be the catalyst for growth of the broadband wireless access market, similar to the impact Wi-Fi had on the Wireless LAN market," said Zvi Slonimsky, CEO of Alvarion. “Without the 802.16a standard, equipment makers have to make everything themselves; including the fundamental silicon, the customer premise equipment, the base station and the network management software. With the standard, equipment makers can innovate in the areas where they excel most, resulting in dramatic industry price/performance gains.”

Intel, the world’s largest chip maker, is also a leading manufacturer of computer, networking and communications products. Additional information about Intel is available at http://www.intel.com/pressroom.



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