Hitachi Communication Technologies and Alvarion Ltd. have formed a partnership to develop WiMax technology.
Hitachi will contribute its mobile gateway expertise as well as its expertise in wireless construction and maintenance while Alvarion will bring its base station technology expertise to the partnership. The two firms will operate primarily in the 2.5 GHz wireless band.
According to the firms' Tuesday announcement, the partnership will specialize in developing total systems. Hitachi's common platform architecture is anticipated to be used across small to large systems in carrier grade applications. Hitachi will also offer very high-speed packet processing that is up to ten times faster than the firm's current offerings, the company said.
"WiMax is considered as the most likely candidate for Broadband Mobile Wireless Access Systems. To establish WiMax technology, the base station, which can transmit broadband data stably, and the mobile management technology, which can realize seamless handover between base stations, are needed," Alvarion said in a statement.
WiMax, or World Interoperability For Microwave Access, is a wireless broadband standard that's designed to extend Wi-Fi networks across greater distances, such as a campus or sections of metropolitan areas. The 802.16 standard is theoretically capable of transmitting data up to 70Mbits per second as far as 37 miles.
Alvarion, which is a global pacesetter in WiMax installations, said it will lower power consumption in its work with Hitachi; installations will be easier as well, Alvarion added, noting that it has deployed WiMax units in 150 different countries.
Based in Japan, Hitachi said the partnership will have an international approach and will operate in several different companies. Alvarion is headquartered in Israel.
