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In a concerted effort to bring standardization to the metro market, service providers, network vendors, and component makers are all ramping up testing and delivery of WiMax products and services. Initial deployments will continue to grow in scope and number in 2005 and beyond, affording WiMax the opportunity to be the dominant broadband wireless access technology by the end of the decade.
But even as these companies plan their first major testing “plug fests,” many, many questions remain: about the performance of WiMax equipment; about how and where it can be deployed; about what are the key applications for this new technology; about the regulatory challenges it may face; about the cost points necessary for mass mobile adoption; and about how the business case for WiMax shapes up.
To answer these pressing WiMax questions and provide a clear picture of how the market is evolving, Light Reading, in association with Unstrung and Heavy Reading, has developed detailed, practical content designed to educate on how WiMax will fit into networking plans for 2005 and beyond.
WiMax: From Development to Deployment conference attendees will be led through the standards, technologies, applications, challenges, and evolution of WiMax as it moves from development into deployment. Combining presentations with the opportunity to question leaders in the WiMax equipment space, key themes will include:
WiMax Application Evolution
This will set the stage by defining the short-term and long-term applications that are driving the WiMax market. We will examine a host of applications that are demanding both fixed and mobile WiMax technologies.
WiMax Standards & Technology Evolution
WiMax aims to become the first widely adopted, standards-based, broadband wireless access technology. An update on the various WiMax standards and technologies will be discussed as we address the challenges surrounding vendor interoperability and mass-market adoption.
WiMax Regulatory Environment
We will investigate the regulatory outlook and issues surrounding licensed versus unlicensed spectrum, a hot topic for equipment vendors and service providers alike.
Mobile WiMax Technology & Timeframes
Although fixed WiMax technologies are driving the market today, it’s the promise of high-bandwidth mobility that holds the most promise for service providers, technology suppliers, and consumers. We will delve into the details of the underlying component- and system-level technologies that will enable 802.16e WiMax mobility.
Keynote
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Philip Urso, Founder & Chairman, TowerStream
Mr. Urso’s emphasis on focus and capital efficiency has helped TowerStream become cash-flow positive within three years. One of the leading fixed-wireless broadband companies in the U.S., TowerStream is perfecting the formula for serving major markets like New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Boston. TowerStream’s extremely low churn rate reflects excellent network performance and high customer satisfaction. Urso has owned, managed, and sold 16 radio stations since 1981. All of these properties were startup or distressed entities. Many recorded their highest margins and ratings under his leadership. In 1995, Urso helped found eFortress, an ISP serving 20 cities. EFortress achieved a 35% EBITDA margin. In 1997, he founded cell-tower company MCF Communications, another high-margin company. |
Moderator
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The moderator for WiMax: From Development to Deployment is Gabriel Brown. As chief analyst of the Unstrung Insider, Gabriel leads research into 802.11 wireless LAN, ultrawideband, WiMAX, and 3G. He has covered the wireless data industry since 1998 and was the editor of IP Wireline & Wireless Week at London's Euromoney Institutional Investor prior to joining Unstrung. Gabriel often presents research findings at industry events and is regularly consulted by wireless networking technology leaders. He is additionally responsible for the overall editorial planning of Light Reading Insider (wireline), Byte and Switch Insider (storage), and Comm Chips Insider (silicon and subsystems). |
Agenda
- 09:00 a.m. – 09:30 a.m. Registration & Coffee
- 09:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Introduction: Broadband Wireless – The Time is
Now
WiMax is the emerging technology that has carriers, component vendors, and equipment suppliers interested in metropolitan-area wireless coverage all over again. This session examines the potential, and reality, of delivering fixed, nomadic, and mobile wireless broadband services to key customer segments using OFDM and scalable OFDMA radio access networks.
10:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. Panel 1: WiMax – Applications,
Challenges & Answers
This panel session will examine potential fixed and mobile WiMax applications and address the underlying technical and deployment challenges that must be overcome to make the WiMax business model work.
The session will look at deployment options for a wide variety of service provider types, including enterprise, residential, mobile, and integrated operators. It will consider point-to-multipoint configurations and integration with wireless mesh networks.
The session will also assess regulatory issues and examine the progress of the WiMax Forum’s Regulatory Working Group in its attempt to achieve global harmonization in licensed and license-exempt frequency bands. An update on the various WiMax standards and WiMax Forum Profiles will be discussed as we address vendor interoperability and mass-market adoption.
11:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Sponsor Company Presentations
12:30 p.m. – 01:45 p.m. Lunch
01:45 p.m. – 02:30 p.m. Keynote: Philip Urso, Founder & Chairman,
Towerstream
02:30 p.m. – 02:45 p.m. Break
02:45 p.m. – 04:00 p.m. Panel 2: WiMax Mobility – Technologies &
Timeframes
This second panel session will provide an in-depth examination of the 802.16e WiMax standard that defines mobility, and will dive into the details of the underlying component- and system-level technologies.
The session will examine the performance characteristics of 256-carrier OFDM and salable OFDMA radio access networks, investigate performance impact of advanced WiMax features, including Adaptive Antenna Systems and MIMO, and assess how user terminals influence overall system performance. It will also assess progress in defining IP core network elements.
Questions answered in this session include:
- When will standards-based silicon be available and integrated into client devices?
- What will be the initial cost points and how will they drop in volume?
- What are the bandwidth and coverage expectations for real-world mobile WiMax deployments?
- What are the realistic performance expectations when considering handoffs at high speeds?
- What are the issues in upgrading from 802.16d-based products to 802.16e?
- How will mobile WiMax coexist with other mobile technologies like WiFi and cellular?
04:00 p.m. – 05:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception & Tabletop Demos
For more information on this unique opportunity please contact:
John Keough
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
West Coast
keough@lightreading.com
415-321-3750 x24 (office)
415-235-7796 (mobile)
415-520-5354 (efax)
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