Alcatel-Lucent clarifies position on mobile WiMAX

Speaking at the WiMAX Congress Asia event in Sinagpore this week, Valerie Layan, VP of next generation mobile access global
business support & strategy at Alcatel-Lucent, outlined the company’s ‘Enhanced Wireless DSL’ strategy for WiMAX, which includes the deployment of 802.16e infrastructure for voice and data services in fixed, nomadic and mobile environments within large metro and regional zones.

“There needs to be some clarification of our position,” said Layan, scotching some recent press speculation that Alcatel-Lucent had entirely backed off from WiMAX investment related to mobility following the company’s restructuring in December 2008 (although the supplier does see LTE as better suited for nationwide ‘4G’ mobile data and voice).

Layan says Alcatel-Lucent is currently supplying 802.16e kit for 15 commercial networks worldwide, the biggest of which is Packet One in Malaysia, and that it has a total of 36 mobile WiMAX contracts to its name. Layan adds that Alcatel-Lucent’s 802.16e base stations are interoperable with 23 CPE vendors (including seven chipset vendors) as part of its Open Device Programme, and it has seven WiMAX IOT (interoperability testing) centres up and running worldwide.