Standardization Activities for Mobile WiMAX

The WirelessMAN standard developed by the IEEE 802.16 Working Group (WG) on Broadband Wireless Access Standards for wireless metropolitan area networks is commonly referred to as the specification for the Mobile Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (Mobile WiMAX) system, but this is not exactly true. The WirelessMAN standard developed by IEEE 802.16 WG includes detailed specifications and various optional functionalities so that it can cover various usage scenarios such as ones ranging from fixed access to mobile access and may extend system performance. The Technical Working Group of the WiMAX Forum selects suitable functionalities and parameters from IEEE 802.16 specifications for the Mobile WiMAX scenario. Discussion in IEEE 802.16 WG is carried out by individual experts, while that in the WiMAX Forum is carried by industrial delegates. Therefore, there are some differences in the standardization activities in IEEE 802.16 WG and WiMAX Forum. Technically sound contributions are more important for standardization in IEEE 802.16 WG, while much weight is put on industrial interest in the WiMAX Forum. This paper briefly reviews the relationship between these two standardization organizations and describes Fujitsu's activities concerning them.