Airspan Networks, a provider of WiMAX and Wi-Fi based broadband wireless access networks, has announced the availability of its Wave 2 MIMO Mobile WiMAX software, which will be used for its existing HiperMAX base station.
HiperMAX, with the new MIMO software, will begin undergoing validation trials with one of Airspan's major Mobile WiMAX customers in the fourth quarter of 2007 and is expected to be commercially available in the first half of 2008. The HiperMAX base station is designed to deliver class leading operational range and capacity and fully supports all MIMO modes of operation when used with a Wave 2 MIMO client device.
Paul Senior, Airspan's chief technical officer said, "We are very pleased to announce this software-only upgrade to the HiperMAX platform. We believe that this product is the most flexible and forward looking in the industry. With HiperMAX already supporting an advanced version of Fixed WIMAX, this new upgrade allows our customers to seamlessly add Wave 2 MIMO Mobile WiMAX."
In addition, Airspan also announced the development of high power Dual Channel Radio Transceivers for the 2.5-2.69 GHz WiMAX frequency band. These new dual channel radios will operate at up to +40dBm and support channel bandwidths up to 20 MHz. These new transceivers will be available for trials in the second quarter of 2008 with mass commercial deployment expected in the third quarter of next year.
Paul Senior continued, "2.5-2.69 GHz is the WiMAX Forum's flagship certification profile that has mandatory support for MIMO. These new, high power, dual channel radios will support 5 and 10 MHz operations and in the future will also support 20 MHz profiles without any hardware change. This is another demonstration of Airspan's ‘software only upgrade' philosophy that we believe minimizes a carrier's capital outlay and ongoing operational expense."