Redline Communications today announced it has joined the WiMAX Forum as a principal member, to help promote and certify the compatibility and interoperability of BWA (broadband wireless access) equipment.

The WiMAX Forum includes leading communications component and equipment manufacturers focusing on accelerating IEEE 802.16a-based wireless broadband equipment into the marketplace. This standard will result in greater economies of scale for network operators, who have often cited standards as the principal driver for enabling large-scale purchase and deployment of BWA equipment into the marketplace. Other WiMAX Forum members include Airspan, Alvarion, Aperto Networks, Ensemble Communications, Fujitsu, Intel, Nokia, the OFDM Forum and Proxim.

"Redline is pleased to join our industry peers as an important part of this organization," said Keith Doucet, Redline's Vice President of Marketing. "We view the new standard as an exciting vehicle for growth in the broadband wireless business and we're dedicated to proceed aggressively with its implementation. Redline was founded in 1999 and has worked since its inception on the 802.16a standard along with engineers and associated networking professionals from across the industry."

Redline is currently developing an 802.16a-compliant product, but compliance is viewed by the company as just a first step. Redline is aggressively pursuing interoperability with other leading vender partners and expects to be one of the first manufacturers to deliver such a system to the market.

"Most 802.16a products will use OFDM technology," Doucet added. "Redline has already established itself as an OFDM leader. For the past year, public and private network operators in 26 countries have used the AN-50 in various deployment scenarios. Our equipment is proven - and by extension - carriers and enterprises will benefit from a standardized technology that is proven."

The 802.16a standard for wireless metropolitan area network (MAN) technology will provide high-speed connectivity to support both backhaul and access applications. Encompassing the 2 GHz to 11 GHz frequencies, the standard provides up to 50-kilometers of range and allows users to receive broadband services without requiring a direct line of sight with the base station. The wireless broadband technology also provides enough scalable bandwidth to simultaneously support more than 100 businesses with T1-type connectivity and thousands of homes with DSL-type connectivity with a single base station.

The standardization process involved engineers and associated networking professionals from 12 countries, representing 144 different companies, resulting in a globally compatible standard.

Redline's current product offering includes the AN-50, a non-line-of-sight, fixed wireless system utilizing advanced orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technology. Redline's distinctive OFDM approach - along with other advanced wireless features implemented in the system - helps to overcome the many performance limitations plaguing current first-generation equipment as well as second-generation platforms using alternative technologies. The AN-50 which is used in more than 250 networks worldwide functions at up to 72 Mbps over the air and operates in the license-exempt band of 5.8 GHz, supporting ranges beyond 50 miles.

Redline Communications focuses on product innovations in the broadband fixed wireless industry. Redline's products deliver a cost-effective wireless solution for backhaul and infrastructure, used by access providers, enterprises, wireless ISPs and more.

The WiMAX Forum was formed to help promote and certify the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless access devices using the 802.16a wireless MAN specification and to help accelerate the introduction of these devices into the marketplace.