In the wake of the announcement of WiMAX 2, leading WiMAX ecosystem participants, including silicon suppliers, equipment makers and research organisations have announced their intention to extend interoperability of the platform while at the same time maintaining backwards capability.

This week, vendors Alvarion, Beceem, GCT Semiconductor, Intel, Motorola, Samsung, Sequans, XRONet and ZTE as well as the Taiwanese research organisation, ITRI, launched the WiMAX 2 Collaboration Initiative (WCI).

The group will work closely with the WiMAX Forum to accelerate the implementation of interoperable system profiles for WiMAX 2 equipment and devices. The group has set itself the objectives of performance benchmarking, testing of 4G applications, network level interoperability testing, and plugfests to prepare for WiMAX Forum certification.

The 802.16m air interface standard definition began in 2006 in the IEEE as a follow on to 802.16e, and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2010.