Intel dropping 5 MHz channel support, limiting to 10 MHz channel ?

[Rubens Kuhl]

I couldn't find any reference on the topic but it seems Intel is planning to drop 5 MHz channel support in many (or all) 802.16e chipsets targeted at low-power mobile stations (USB dongle, Notebook/netbook chipset, MIDs), keeping only 10 MHz.

I would appreciate any reference either confirming or denying such thing.

[Alan J Weissberger]

This is a question for your local Intel Applications Engineer or Marketing/ Sales Dept. What Intel chipset did you have in mind?

[Jose Puthenkulam]

I'm not going to reply on the specific question of the support in the chips.

But I will say that, 10MHz is the best way forward to achieve a triple play or quadruple play type broadband service. With 5MHz, the near term benefits may be there, but long term it is the wrong approach. It also provides much better trunking efficiency to use 10MHz channels.

[Rubens Kuhl]

I agree with all that, but I think having 5 MHz support is good for a roaming WiMAX world. We already have the 2.3/2.5/3.5 issue, but having also a channel size issue would decrease the probably of a successful roaming user.

There are operators with 7 MHz, but it's not a standard profile. 5 MHz is one of standard forum profiles.



Jose Puthenkulam said:

I'm not going to reply on the specific question of the support in the chips.

But I will say that, 10MHz is the best way forward to achieve a triple play or quadruple play type broadband service. With 5MHz, the near term benefits may be there, but long term it is the wrong approach. It also provides much better trunking efficiency to use 10MHz channels.