Intel introduces WiMAX wireless technology

Today Intel rolled out the silicon for WiMAX, a contorted acronym meaning Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access. The Intel PRO/Wireless 5116 broadband interface device is based on the IEEE 802.16-2004 standard, which provides coverage over a distance up to 50 kilometers (31 miles) with speeds up to 70 megabits per second
. It is currently designed for “fixed” networks, meaning that the connection is maintained between a service provider and a customer with a non-mobile antenna. The network would be composed of base stations dispersed throughout a metropolitan area, providing cheap, fast internet access in US cities similiar to the speeds enjoyed by residents of cities like Tokyo or Seoul.