RFIC supplier SiGe Semiconductor has announced its support for WiMAX Forum, an industry-led organization with the goal of accelerating the adoption of broadband wireless access services for homes and businesses. As a member of WiMAX Forum, SiGe Semiconductor is actively developing RFICs for broadband wireless access equipment.

WiMAX is based on the IEEE 802.16 standard for wireless metropolitan-area networks (MANs). Widespread deployment of the technology is expected over the next three to five years, driven by WiMAX's ability to deliver affordable "Last Mile" broadband Internet services. In a typical deployment scenario, WiMAX Forum-certified products are expected to support up to 40 Mbps of data per channel at a range of three to 10 kilometers--enough bandwidth and transmission range to deliver high-speed access of voice, data and video services simultaneously to hundreds of businesses or thousands of residences.

"The extended range enabled by WiMAX, relative to WiFi, is driving a significant market opportunity. The technology's transmission range and high data rates will enable seamless, portable access to new voice and data services," said Andrew Parolin, director of wireless power amplifiers, SiGe Semiconductor. "We hope to accelerate the adoption of this technology by collaborating with manufacturers to speed development of equipment that achieves the reliability, data throughput and transmission range required for equipment to become WiMAX Forum Certified."

Customers are currently using SiGe's 5 GHz WLAN power amplifier in WiMAX developments, and SiGe plans to expand this line to include a full range of WiMAX capable chip-scale RF front-end modules and power amplifiers during 2005.

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