Clearwire tests mobile WiMAX

Craig McCaw’s US-based wireless broadband provider, Clearwire, said Monday that it has successfully completed phase one of its mobile WiMAX field trials.

The field trial took place in Portland, Oregon, and was conducted in partnership with Intel and Motorola using kit based on the IEEE 802.16e standard operating in the 2.5GHz frequency band.

The first phase field trial focused on coverage, capacity and speed associated with the air interface, Clearwire said.

“The expected ability of Clearwire to deliver always-on, high speed broadband at a good value using self provisioning wireless devices over a WiMAX network should enable mass market adoption,” said Berge Ayvazian, chief strategy officer at industry analyst, Yankee Group.

“Based on open standards, this advanced WiMAX technology solution will fill the substantial need for very fast, truly personal broadband and mobile internet access.”

Sriram Viswanathan, vice president of Intel Capital and general manager of the company’s WiMAX Program Office, said the completion of the first phase of the field trial put the company “on track to deliver the first integrated mobile WiMAX solution with next-generation Intel Centrino processor technology in 2008.”