19 January 2005: Intel and ZTE have unveiled plans to push WiMAX on the global market. ZTE has created a new subsidiary, ZiMAX Technologies, dedicated to the development of IEEE 802.16-based products. As part of the agreement, ZTE will develop and deploy equipment using Intel's ' Rosedale' silicon to develop infrastructure and customer premise equipment for 802.16-2004 networks and for networks based on the upcoming IEEE 802.16e standard.

 The two companies will also cooperate to develop and promote standards and specifications for 802.16-based networks, and plan to work with regulators worldwide to obtain the necessary spectrum for WiMAX deployment.

 ZTE plans to begin initial deployments of networks based on 802.16-2004 later this year with carriers in China, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia and will be conducting field trials of 802.16e networks beginning in mid-2006.

 In other broadband news, Cisco has agreed to pay US$450mn for WLAN vendor Airespace. The deal is expected to be finalised in April. In the short term, Cisco is expected to continue to offer its own Structured Wireless Aware Network (SWAN) WLAN technology as well as that of Airespace, but the longer term picture is less clear. Neither is the rationale behind the Cisco purchase, the first that the company has undertaken for some time. Albert Benhamou, VP sales EMEA at Aruba Wireless, a competing WLAN vendor has a view on the situation. "Wireless technology is causing disruption to the incumbent networking technologies and vendors. It will have a profound impact on the enterprise network infrastructure and society as a whole throughout the decade. After an extended period of assumption that wireless was just an extension to wired networks, Cisco has now probably realised what a threat this technology poses to its existing networking business. But Aruba rejected an earlier Cisco's proposition to enter into acquisition talks. Cisco's recognition of the importance of this technology validates Aruba 's position and highlights the threat to traditional networking vendors. The convergence of wireless, security and Wi-Fi voice presents an immense market opportunity. Aruba realises the profound impact that Wi-Fi is having on corporate networks. The prospects of this new paradigm are vast. That's why we're not for sale".