Seamless Handover Between WiMAX and GSM Demo'd

Samsung and Alcatel-Lucent have announced a GSM-WiMAX handover platform which enables roaming between the two technologies, even during a call or data transmission. The companies say that operators will be able to gradually roll out wireless broadband services using WiMAX Rev-e (802.16e-2005), because when their subscribers move out of WiMAX range the existing GSM/EDGE network will immediately pick up the connection without disruption in the subscriber's session or call.

"The arrival of dual mode in the market place is highly anticipated and represents a significant step for the development of the WiMAX market," Michael Thelander, CEO Signals Research Group. " It has the potential to change the market trajectory, and the combination of Samsung's consumer device technology and brand with Alcatel-Lucent's WiMAX networks expertise will add confidence to the first steps in this direction."

Samsung was already a partner in Alcatel-Lucent's Open CPE Program, established to stimulate the ecosystem to ensure that WiMAX operators and their subscribers have access to the widest possible variety of terminal devices at affordable prices.

Alcatel-Lucent and Samsung are collaborating on the solution's specifications, testing and deployment to optimize network and device architectures based on a unified protocol. This will ensure security and mobility-management control for operator customers. As part of the effort, they will contribute to standardization, working with organizations such as the WiMAX Forum and 3GPP.

Posted to the site on 13th February 2008