UM gets only US lab for WiMAX next generation wireless apps

COLLEGE, Md. -- The University of Maryland will be the home to North America's first, and the world's second, laboratory endorsed by the WiMAX Forum and dedicated to creating applications for WiMAX, a next generation technology for Web and other wireless communications. The university and the WiMAX Forum announced the formation of Maryland's new MAXWell Lab today.

Part of the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies, the MAXWell Lab will provide developers of WiMAX compatible hardware and software with a large test bed and support of faculty and students in university's highly-ranked computer science and computer and electrical engineering departments.

"It currently is difficult for a WiMAX application developer to test their application in a real environment at a neutral site," said Ashok Agrawala, director of the university's new MAXWell Lab. "This facility will support such testing extensively and the university is an excellent site for such testing. The first carrier deployment of WiMAX in the U.S. is by Sprint and the initial deployments are in Washington, DC area. With a university community of 50,000 people, the test bed at the MAXWell Lab will be available for testing WiMAX applications in a live environment with many users," said Agrawala, a professor in the university's department of computer science and Institute for Advanced Computer Studies.

Creating a New World of High-Speed Wireless Internet Access

WiMAX, which stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a wireless technology that seeks to provide anytime, anywhere broadband Internet access through WiMAX compatible laptops, PDAs and other devices. WiMAX technology can provide data speeds comparable to cable and ISDN services with a wireless technology system that is similar to, but can cover much larger areas (3-30 miles) than WiFi "hotspots" (100 to 300 ft) now found in hotels, coffee shops, college buildings and other places. WiMAX technology makes possible the creation of wireless "metropolitan area networks," (MANs), as well as the provision of high-speed Web access to rural and other areas not currently served because of the time and expense of running broadband cable or fiber over long distances. Based on the IEEE 802.16 standard, the name WiMAX was created by the WiMAX Forum, which was formed in June 2001 to promote conformance and interoperability of the standard.

University of Maryland President C.D. Mote, Jr. said, "This new laboratory promises the development of path-breaking applications in wireless technology. The placement of this new facility at the University of Maryland is a tribute to the leadership of our faculty and programs in wireless communications, computer science and entrepreneurship."