Nortel says that it has realigned its wireless broadband strategy to address early market opportunities that are emerging for WiMAX and LTE. As part of this strategy, Nortel is focusing its main wireless R&D resources on LTE and wireless applications, with WiMAX development re-aligning around an agreement with Alvarion to create an end-to-end WiMAX solution.

 "Both WiMAX and LTE represent game-changing opportunities for Nortel because they require advances in network speed and capacity that Nortel knows how to deliver," said Richard Lowe, president, Carrier Networks, Nortel.

The Nortel and Alvarion strategic agreement will form a complete, end-to-end WiMAX solution, combining Alvarion's WiMAX access platform with Nortel's all-IP network core technologies, backhaul, developing applications for carriers and end-to-end lifecycle support through Nortel Global Services for WiMAX.

Nortel has appointed Scott Wickware as the general manager of its WiMAX products.

The agreement also covers the resale by Nortel of the Alvarion platform of WiMAX access products. Both companies will also work together to perform Interoperability Testing (IOT). Alvarion will focus on device to network interoperability testing and Nortel will concentrate on the end-to-end network integration with the IP core, and applications. In order to incentivize the parties to engage in these activities, during the term of the agreement, Alvarion will be Nortel's exclusive supplier of WiMAX IEEE 802.16(e) 2X2/2X4 macro base stations and both parties have agreed to designate account leads in order to go to market in the most efficient and effective manner.

Source: cellular-news