25-Feb-2014
Partnership to Foster the Harmonization of WiMAX Advanced With LTE TDD
CLACKAMAS, OR - February 25, 2014 - The WiMAX Forum®, a global body that promotes the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products, and Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI), a global platform that was founded to drive cooperation among global broadband operators in the promotion of LTE-TDD as a global telecom standard, today jointly announced that they have formed a strategic partnership during Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
The new relationship will serve as a strategic foundation to guarantee WiMAX Advanced™ is fully compatible with TD-LTE, which ensures WiMAX operators are able to share economy of scale of TD-LTE and provide service with either Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) or International Mobile Telecom (IMT)-Advanced network implementations. WiMAX Forum proposes a co-labeling process of "WiMAX Advanced" and TD-LTE ecosystem products; and will also sponsor a WiMAX Advanced/TD-LTE platform, to be implemented by Taiwan CMB (Consortium of Mobile Broadband) to facilitate ecosystem interoperability in August 2014.
With some WiMAX operators upgrading to TD-LTE or endorsing WiMAX Advanced, the Global industry responses to this harmonization is very timely. "We are pleased to formalize our partnership with GTI," said Dr. Mohammad Shakouri, Chairman of the WiMAX Forum. "Through this collaboration, we'll be able to support several key goals of our combined memberships. Since its inception, the WiMAX Forum has been focused on supporting the global adoption of 4G mobile broadband. GTI shares the same vision to forge new opportunities, for operators and vendors alike, as technologies converge."
Craig Ehrlich, Chairman at GTI said, "GTI is happy to work with the WiMAX Forum and bring them in line with our common goals. The reality is that many of our operator members are currently either running WiMAX or upgrading to WiMAX Advanced networks, which is fully compatible with LTE-TDD within their coverage areas. This alliance will help raise awareness and drive best practices for innovative network transitions, as operators seek to create a more streamlined interworking between WiMAX and LTE-TDD and enjoy the benefit of global deployment of TD-LTE, while maximizing and future-proofing their investments."
For more information on WiMAX technology or to become a member of the WiMAX Forum, please send a message to Membership@wimaxforum.org. For more information on GTI or to become a member, please contact GTI Secretariat at admin@lte-tdd.org.
About the WiMAX Forum
The WiMAX Forum is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization that certifies and promotes the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products based upon IEEE Standard 802.16. The WiMAX Forum’s primary goal is to accelerate the adoption, deployment and expansion of WiMAX technologies across the globe while facilitating roaming agreements, sharing best practices within our membership and certifying products. WiMAX Forum Certified® products are interoperable and support broadband fixed, nomadic, portable and mobile services. The WiMAX Forum works closely with service providers and regulators to ensure that WiMAX Forum Certified systems meet customer and government requirements. For more information, visit www.wimaxforum.org.
About the GTI
Global TD-LTE Initiative (GTI) is is an open platform aiming to constructing a robust ecosystem of TD-LTE, promote the succesfall global deployment of TD-LTE and the convergent development of LTE TDD and FDD. GTI, since its establishment in 2011, has become an international cooperation platform comprised of 100 operator members and 73 industrial partners throughout the industry chain worldwide. It has received great support from industries of FDD, TD-SCDMA, WiMAX and PHS, and has also established strategic partnerships with GSMA, NGMN,TD Aliance and the WiMAX Forum. For more information, visit www.lte-tdd.org.
For Frequently Asked Questions on this announcement, please visit the following: GTI and WiMAX Forum Strategic Partnership - FAQ.
