WiMAX Forum(TM) Selects Cetecom Spain to Begin Certification Testing in July 2005

(I-Newswire) January 25, 2005 - The WiMAX Forum� has selected its standardization test lab and announces a certification roadmap that marks July 2005 for the launch of the WiMAX Forum Certified� program.

The WiMAX Forum selected Cetecom Spain as its official certification laboratory, achieving a critical milestone toward enabling the commercial availability of WiMAX Forum Certified� products. Acting as an independent body, Cetecom will test and certify WiMAX Forum member companies' products to ensure they meet WiMAX Forum conformance and interoperability standards.

"Since January 2003, the WiMAX Forum has been committed to driving growth and innovation in broadband wireless access through industry standards," said WiMAX Forum President Ron Resnick. "Preparation of the test lab is the last step in the process before we begin accepting equipment for certification. The lion's share of work has been done -- we are in the home stretch."

The selection of Cetecom is the culmination of a rigorous 12-month review process by the WiMAX Forum. Cetecom was chosen for its extensive range of testing and compliance services, which includes experience in wireless technologies such as GSM/GPRS, EDGE, W-CDMA, Wi-Fi� and Bluetooth�. Headquartered in Spain, Cetecom has affiliate regional labs, which will allow WiMAX Forum members worldwide to easily access the testing facilities.

"Cetecom Spain is proud to have been selected by the WiMAX Forum as the official certification lab for WiMAX products," said Fernando Hardasmal, Cetecom Spain's deputy general manager. "We are working diligently with the WiMAX Forum to implement the test profiles for IEEE 802.16-2004 so that we can begin accepting vendor equipment in July."

Vendor equipment will undergo extensive testing by Cetecom to ensure it conforms to WiMAX profiles and the IEEE 802.16-2004 and ETSI HiperMAN standard and that it is interoperable with other WiMAX Forum Certified equipment. Certified products are critical to the ubiquitous deployment of broadband wireless access because they enable a mass market by driving price and performance to levels unachievable with proprietary equipment.

"The WiMAX Forum has set the foundation for broadband wireless technology to succeed in the global marketplace," said Yankee Group Senior Analyst Lindsay Schroth. "When you consider all of the elements involved with creating a standards-based certification program, the WiMAX Forum has done a great job of pulling them all together."

The WiMAX Forum has gained significant momentum over the past two years, particularly in the last nine months when the organization set mid-2005 as the target date for launching the WiMAX Forum Certified program. Since that time, WiMAX Forum profiles were selected, the IEEE 802.16-2004 standard was completed and silicon manufacturers began sampling their products.

"As an industry association, our role is to drive standardization and certification -- we do not launch products or build networks. But based on what we are hearing from our member companies, we believe service provider lab trials could begin in the third quarter of 2005, followed by commercial trials in the fourth quarter. We are optimistic that networks could be commercially deployed by the first quarter of 2006," said Resnick.

The WiMAX Forum has more than 230 members, representing the entire ecosystem of companies necessary for bringing WiMAX Forum Certified� products to market, including equipment manufacturers, operators, system integrators, silicon and component makers, and application providers. For a complete list of current members, visit www.WiMAXForum.org.

About WiMAX Forum

The WiMAX Forum is an industry-led, non-profit corporation formed to help promote and certify the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products using the IEEE 802.16 and ETSI HiperMAN wireless MAN specifications. The forum's goal is to accelerate the introduction of these devices into the marketplace. WiMAX Forum Certified� products will be fully interoperable and support Metropolitan Broadband Fixed, Portable and Mobile Applications. For more information about the WiMAX Forum and its activities, please visit www.WiMAXForum.org.

About Cetecom

Centro de Tecnolog�a de las Comunicaciones, S.A. (CETECOM Spain) is a global supplier of Testing Solutions for wired and wireless technologies (GSM/GPRS, EDGE; W-CDMA, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, RFID, DECT and PSTN). It services portfolio ranges from conformance, regulatory and interoperability testing services to test systems development, international type approval handling, training and consulting.

For more information, please visit www.cetecom.es

WiMAX Forum� and WiMAX Forum Certified� are registered trademarks of the WiMAX Forum.

For more information, contact:
Kendra Petrone
Office: +1 214.443.7597
Mobile: +1 214.773.5615
kendra.petrone@edelman.com


SOURCE: WiMAX Forum

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