WiMAX could become a sub-3G technology before 2008 thanks to pre- approval of proposals submitted by the IEEE and the WiMAX Forum to the International Telecommunication Union.
WP 8F has delivered a number of key Recommendations and Reports that update and expand the family of IMT-2000 radio interfaces, establish the foundation for IMT-Advanced, and call for additional spectrum for IMT. It has woven together a definition, a recipe, and a roadmap foreseeing the future beyond 3G that is comprised of a balance between a market and services view, a technology view, and a spectrum view. Along with regulatory aspects, these are the key elements for business success in the wireless industry, and ITU-R continues to deliver value to industry and government.
Working under a mandate to address "systems beyond 3G", WP 8F progressed from delivering an initial vision to establishing a name for the future (IMT-Advanced) and set out principles for the process of development of IMT-Advanced. These deliverables stimulated research and development activities worldwide, spawned ideas on potential technologies, and promoted views on spectrum required to address a rapidly growing wireless world.
ITU is the internationally recognized entity chartered to produce an official definition of the next generation of wireless technologies. A full set of documentation for this definition will be released shortly. During 2008 and 2009, there will be an open call for candidates for IMT-Advanced to be submitted to ITU, as well as the start of assessment activities of candidate technologies and systems. Services provided using IMT-Advanced could be commercially available as early as 2011 subject to market demand.
