WiMax 2 almost finalized - roll out expected in 2012

Despite the forthcoming launch of competing technologies like LTE, the WiMax forum announced the WiMax 2 (802.16m) standard will be finalized this November, with deployment expected throughout 2012. The new WiMax 2 standard promises to deliver downlink speed of over 100Mbps, and the coverage will remain the same as the current technology, which covers about 31 square miles per access point.

While LTE starts rolling out from major U.S. carriers in 2011, the WiMax Forum is hoping to have the so-called WiMax 2 standard up and ready to go by the start of 2012.

Declan Byrne, the marketing director for the WiMax Forum industry group, says the WiMax 2 standard, formally known as 802.16m, will be finalized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) this November, with an eye toward certifying devices based on the standard throughout 2011. From there, he expects ISPs to start deploying the standard commercially throughout 2012, when U.S. carriers such as AT&T and T-Mobile will just be starting to offer LTE services nationwide.

More details ComputerWorld.