Video: CDMA Development Group Says LTE Focus Doesn't Rule Out WiMax

Video: CDMA Development Group Says LTE Focus Doesn't Rule Out WiMax
DENVER, Colorado -- The CDMA Development Group is emphasizing Long-Term Evolution product development for 2009, but that doesn't mean the group sees WiMax as a lesser contender for 4G.

In fact, Sarvesh Sharma, director of network solutions marketing at Huawei, said that the recent Next Generation Mobile Networks meeting was misinterpreted in the press to be neglecting WiMax. While WiMax standards came from an IEEE- and IP-oriented community, they are given full credibility by wireless operators, Sharma said.

"At the end of the day, they rely on a common OFDM base, and we will work at full interoperability with LTE and WiMax," said Perry LaForge, chairman of CDG. "Wireless operators may show a natural tendency toward LTE, but they know they cannot ignore the significant WiMax deployments that exist worldwide."

Maniam Palanivelu, senior manager of global CDMA and LTE marketing at Nortel Networks, said that WiMax is finding important roles in developing nations, rural areas, and specialized greenfield deployments. In North America, WiMax is defined by Sprint and Clearwire interests, he said, while globally the 802.16 fixed and mobile versions have a broader installed base.

LaForge said that two important points about CDMA use can be seen in the organizations June 2008 statistics, which showed 450 million subscribers worldwide. Some rapidly-expanding Asian nations like China, India, and Indonesia are rapidly adding 3G services, he said, while nations in Africa and other parts of Asia are still growing CDMAone networks.

In these latter developing markets, LaForge said, wireless operators also are showing interest in new 450-MHz services, which allow expansion of capacity at lower costs. Earlier this month, CDG and the International 450 Association joined forces to promote a 450-MHz Special Interest Group within CDG.

LaForge talked about other initiatives with EE Times following the CDG meeting.

Other hot topics for CDG in a sweltering Denver included 700-MHz services, broadband backhaul, and femtocell base stations.