IEEE 802.16(TM) WirelessMAN(R) Standard enters IMT-2000 Family for International Mobile Telecommunications.

Key International Recognition for Innovative Broadband Wireless Technology

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- The IEEE today announced a major step forward in the internationalization of the IEEE 802.16[TM] WirelessMAN[R] standard for Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks with its incorporation into the set of IMT-2000 Recommendations maintained by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Final approval was granted by the ITU's Radiocommunication Assembly (RA), which convenes every 3-4 years and included delegations of nearly 100 nations along with many private-sector representatives and international member organizations such as IEEE. The International Telecommunication Union is the leading United Nations agency for information and communication technologies.

IMT-2000 ("International Mobile Telecommunications") is a global standard defined by ITU in a set of interdependent ITU Recommendations, which include the specifications for the radio interfaces of these advanced wireless communications systems. ITU formally recognized IEEE 802.16 by incorporating it as the sixth terrestrial radio interface, the first one added to IMT-2000 since the five original ones adopted nearly a decade ago. The specific implementation, known as "IMT-2000 OFDMA TDD WMAN," is the version of IEEE 802.16 supported in a profile developed for certification purposes by the WiMAX Forum[R].

"I am immensely gratified that the international community, through ITU, has recognized the significance of the IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN standard," said Roger B. Marks, Chair of the IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access. "The Working Group has worked diligently over many years to accelerate the delivery of novel technology to the marketplace. We have gathered many participants and supporters from around the globe. I am delighted that the world community has now welcomed our results, and I appreciate the efforts of our many friends, and of the ITU membership and staff, in doing the hard work needed to pass through the scrupulous IMT-2000 process."

"It gives me great satisfaction to observe that the ITU Radiocommunication Sector continues to be responsive to the most pressing needs of the wireless industry in the deployment of innovative technological solutions," said Mr. Valery Timofeev, Director of the ITU Radiocommunication Bureau.

National governments around the world look to ITU Recommendations for guidance on critical information and communications issues. Recognition of OFDMA TDD WMAN, a subset of IEEE 802.16, as an IMT-2000 technology opens the door for operators around the world to choose advanced IEEE 802.16-compliant systems providing consumers with a range of voice, data, and multimedia services to both stationary and fully mobile devices. "The addition of OFDMA TDD WMAN in Recommendation ITU-R M.1457 is a major milestone that pushes the envelope in the development of the capabilities of IMT-2000," said Jose M. Costa, IEEE 802.16 Working Group ITU-R Liaison Official.

About the IEEE 802.16 Working Group

The IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access has been developing the IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN[R] Standard for Wireless Metropolitan Area Networks in a series of standards development activities since 1999. The Working Group currently has 333 individual members and a portfolio of five active projects. For details, see http://wirelessman.org.

About the IEEE Standards Association 

The IEEE-SA is a globally recognized standards-setting body that develops consensus standards through an open process bringing diverse parts of an industry together. These standards set specifications and procedures based on current scientific consensus. The IEEE-SA has a portfolio of more than 870 completed standards and more than 400 standards in development. For information on IEEE-SA, see http://standards.ieee.org.

About the IEEE

The IEEE has more than 375,000 members in approximately 150 countries. Through its members, the organization is a leading authority on areas ranging from aerospace, computers and telecommunications to biomedicine, electric power and consumer electronics. The IEEE produces nearly 30 percent of the world's literature in the electrical and electronics engineering, computing and control technology fields. This nonprofit organization also sponsors or cosponsors more than 300 technical conferences each year. Additional information about the IEEE can be found at http://www.ieee.org.

IEEE 802.16 and WirelessMAN are trademarks of the IEEE. All other names or product names are the trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.