Nortel (
News -
Alert), the company which delivers communication capabilities has entered into a joint strategic WiMAX

agreement with Alvarion (
News -
Alert) Limited, to create an end-to-end WiMAX solution. The solution is expected to meet the needs of the evolving wireless broadband market.
WiMAX

(Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access) is the latest communication technology that delivers high-speed access wirelessly, enabling fixed and mobile broadband services over large coverage areas. WiMAX (
News -
Alert) come in both Fixed and Mobile form.
Alvarion Limited is a provider of innovative WiMAX and wireless broadband network solutions. The company focuses on delivering personal mobile broadband, business and residential primary broadband access, corporate VPNs, toll quality telephony, mobile base station

feeding, hotspot coverage extension, community interconnection and public safety communications.
This current alliance between Nortel and Alvarion mobile WiMAX solution will aim at enabling operators and service providers to deliver high-speed wireless broadband for a variety of applications, mobile or nomadic, including VoIP

, streaming music, and HD video.
“Wireless broadband is one of the fastest growing opportunities in the telecommunications market,” said Richard Lowe, president, Carrier Networks, Nortel.
The joint end-to-end WiMAX solution will feature the combined expertise of both the companies which will include Alvarion’s advanced radio access network technology and Nortel’s core network solutions, backhaul solutions, applications such as Nortel’s number one carrier VoIP solution, and professional services.
Lowe mentioned that this collaboration between Nortel and Alvarion will allow both companies to deliver on the growing needs for high quality, turnkey WiMAX solution that is based on the best technology from each.
Lowe also clarified that the solution will also include Nortel services, ranging from network consulting, design and deployment to full network management, to help customers maximize network investments by providing the flexibility to handle changing coverage, capacity and other unique requirements.
“Nortel and Alvarion, both innovators in the wireless arena, are coming together to respond to the demand for WiMAX solutions in all regions of the world,” said Tzvika Friedman, president and chief executive officer, Alvarion.
As per the deal, both the companies will jointly perform Interoperability Testing (IOT). Alvarion will be Nortel’s exclusive supplier of WiMAX IEEE

802.16e base stations. Both the companies have agreed to designate the account leads. The agreement also covers the resale by Nortel of the Alvarion platform of WiMAX access products in order to form the end-to-end solution for customers.
Jai C.S. is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of Jai’s articles, please visit his columnist page.
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) | X |
| As a sister technology to Wi-Fi, the IEEE 802.16 specification outlines technology for Wireless Metro Area Network (MAN). WiMAX actually stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, whi...more |
Voice over IP (VoIP) | X |
| A real-time communications system that converts voice into digital packets containing media and signaling data that travel over networks using Internet Protocol....more |
Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) | X |
| The IEEE is a non-profit organization while not a governmental agency does establish standards (www.ieee.org)....more |
802.16 (WiMAX) | X |
| As a sister technology to Wi-Fi, the IEEE 802.16 specification outlines technology for Wireless Metro Area Network (MAN). WiMAX actually stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, whi...more |
Base Station (BTS) | X |
| A two-way radio installation that is typically located in an enterprise customer's premises (hence, Customer Premises Equipment or CPE) or a service providers Central Office (CO). Also known as networ...more |