Sprint Joins the WiMax Forum
Sprint has joined the WiMAX Forum as a Principal Member to lend its support and long-standing network expertise to that organization’s mission of global interoperability standards formation for broadband wireless access products.
The WiMax Forum is an industry-led, nonprofit corporation formed to promote and certify compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products based on the IEEE 802.16 standard. Sprint has been an influential force among international operators and vendors in driving 802.16 standards, technology development and strategy for 802.16e (mobile WiMax) and now will share that expertise with the WiMax Forum.
Ubiquitous wireless broadband access will help meet blossoming demand for rapid Internet connection and integrated data, voice and video services among businesses and consumers. As a wireless data leader, Sprint is in a unique position to understand market demands. “We support the forum’s infrastructure goals,” explained Oliver Valente, vice president - Technology Development, Sprint. “Standardization and certification will unlock significant opportunities for service providers and equipment makers while bringing new high-speed connectivity benefits for users. We are anxious to conduct technical trials as test equipment becomes available, as WiMAX is complementary to Sprint’s high-speed communications portfolio, and we are looking at WiMAX solutions for a number of future applications.”
“Sprint’s decision to join the WiMAX Forum and to invest the company’s broadband experience and expertise in the development of WiMAX is significant,” said WiMAX Forum President Ron Resnick. “The WiMAX Forum’s long-term vision is to drive innovation and the growth of multinetwork broadband wireless solutions. Participation by major operators such as Sprint, with extensive experience in networking technologies, is a key element to our success.”