The WiMAX Forum® established in June,2001 which is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization formed to certify and promote the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products based upon the harmonized IEEE 802.16/ETSI HiperMAN standard, there are more than 470 members comprising the majority of operators, component and equipment companies in the communications ecosystem. The ultimate goal of the WiMAX Forum is to promote

and accelerate the introduction of cost-effective broadband wireless access services into the marketplace. Standards-based, interoperable solutions enable economies of scale that, in turn, drive price and performance levels unachievable by proprietary approaches, making WiMAX Forum Certified products the most competitive at delivering broadband services on a wide scale. Along these lines, the WiMAX Forum works closely with service providers and regulators to ensure that WiMAX Forum Certified systems meet customer and government requirements.

WiMAX Forum Taiwan Office

Taiwan has been actively participating in WiMAX Forum activities and promoting WiMAX technology world-wide since 2005. The M-Taiwan program serves as a model for other regions in initiating WiMAX projects and establishing a WiMAX ecosystem. With the strength of wireless industry Taiwan plays a crucial role in the success of global WiMAX deployment. In recognition of Taiwan's efforts and contributions to WiMAX development, WiMAX Forum established the Taiwan Office in April 2007. The goals of the Taiwan Office are to further the causes of WiMAX Forum, serve members and promote WiMAX development and deployment in the region, and support other regions in WiMAX deployment and applications. The establishment of the office will also facilitate enhanced international collaboration between Taiwan and WiMAX Forum as well as other leading organizations and companies in the world.

WiMAX Forum® organization Structure

Officers and Board of Directors
The Officers and Board of Directors of the WiMAX Forum are responsible for leading the Broadband Wireless Access market adoption of IEEE 802.16-based BWA systems through promotional activity and certification and interoperability testing. The Board and Officers are also responsible for agency oversight, goal setting, policies, and fundraising.

Organizational chart
Listed below are the nine working groups of WiMAX Forum. Working Groups will address critical areas of focus in bringing WiMAX Forum Certified products to the marketplace.



Working Groups
Application Working Group (AWG)
The Application Working Group is composed of two major task groups: Application Architecture Task Group(AATG) , and Application Business Task Group(ABTG).
Chairs:
  •  Tom Tofigh, AT&T (Chair, Application Architecture Task Group)
  •  Howard Liu, Disney (Chair, Application Business Task Group)
Task: Define applications over WiMAX that are necessary to meet core competitive offerings and that are uniquely enhanced by WiMAX.
Charter:
Characterize and demonstrate best practice solutions across classes of user friendly applications and ensure various applications are competitive with existing technologies and also exploit unique WiMAX capabilities.

Certification Working Group (CWG)
Chairs: Aditya Agrawal, Beceem; Ed Agis, Intel
Task: Handles the operational aspects of the WiMAX Forum Certified program.
Charter:
  •  Evaluation of testing options
  •  Recommendation for test lab(s) selection
  •  Manage test lab(s) relationship
  •  Manage WiMAX Forum Certified program
  •  Maintain open process for WiMAX Forum Certified program
  •  Work closely with TWG
  •  TWG provides System Profiles, PICS, TSS&TP;
  •  If TSS&TP; outsourced to test lab, assist TWG to manage relations

Evolutionary Technical Working Group (ETWG)
Chair:Robert Speidel, M/A-COM, Inc.
Task:Maintains existing OFDM profiles, develops additional fixed OFDM profiles, and develops technical specifications for the evolution of the WiMAX Forum's OFDM based networks from fixed to nomadic to portable, to mobile.
Charter:
The objective of the ETWG is to maintain existing OFDM profiles, develop additional fixed OFDM profiles, and develop technical specifications for the evolution of the WiMAX Forum's OFDM based networks from fixed to nomadic to portable to mobile. ETWG will develop conformance test technical specifications and Certification test suites for the air interface based on OFDM PHY, complementary to the IEEE 802.16 standards primarily for the purpose of certification of and interoperability of broadband wireless Mobile/Subscriber Stations and Base Stations conforming to the IEEE 802.16 standards.

Global Roaming Working Group (GRWG)
Chair: Hyung Kim, KT
Task:Assures the availability of global roaming service for WiMAX networks in a timely manner as demanded by the marketplace.
Charter:
Assure availability of global roaming service for WiMAX networks in a timely manner as demanded by the marketplace.
Marketing Working Group (MWG)
Chair:Mohammad Shakouri, Alvarion
Task:Promotes the WiMAX Forum, its brands and the standards which form the basis for worldwide interoperability of BWA systems.
Charter:
  •  Build awareness of BWA (Broadband Wireless Access) and preference for WIMAX Forum
     Certified products worldwide
  •  Re-establish credibility of BWA as valid last mile solution
  •  Launch WiMAX Forum Certified program
  •  Establish WiMAX Forum as the leader of the wireless broadband industry

Network Working Group (NWG)
Chair: Prakash Iyer, Intel
Task :Creates higher level networking specifications for fixed, nomadic, portable and mobile WiMAX systems, beyond what is defined in the scope of 802.16.
Charter:
The purpose of the Network Working Group (NWG) is to create higher level networking specifications for fixed, nomadic, portable and mobile WiMAX systems, beyond what is defined in the scope of 802.16. The specific objective for the NWG is to deliver a reference architecture model and required specification(s) based on harmonized requirements from the Service Provider Working Group (SPWG) and profiles to be approved by the WiMAX Forum.

Regulatory Working Group (RWG)
Chair: Tim Hewitt, BT
Task:Influences worldwide regulatory agencies to promote WiMAX-friendly, globally harmonized spectrum allocations.
Charter:
  •  Ensure availability and global harmonization of "WiMAX friendly" spectrum worldwide.
  •  Encourage uniform adoption of specific frequency bands to realize the greatest economies
     of scale and the most cost efficient manufacturing.
  •  Work with regulators to develop flexible and technology neutral regulatory frameworks that
     allow usage models to evolve as the BWA market matures and enable service providers to
     deploy the most appropriate solutions for their markets

Service Provider Working Group (SPWG)
Chair: NK Shankar, AT&T
Task:Gives service providers a platform for influencing BWA product and spectrum requirements to ensure that their individual market needs are fulfilled.
Charter:
  •  To establish a platform for service provider to provide feedback to all the other Working
     Groups within the WiMAX Forum
Responsibilities:
        - Define requirements for network architecture beyond the IEEE 802.16 standard
        - Develop business models for WiMAX Forum Certified products
        - Define functional specifications for future IEEE 802.16 standards

Technical Working Group (TWG)
Chairs: Wonil Roh, Samsung; Vladimir Yanover, Alvarion
Task:
The main goal of the TWG is to develop technical product specifications and certification test suites for the air interface based on the OFDMA PHY, complementary to the IEEE 802.16 standards, primarily for the purpose of interoperability and certification of Mobile Stations, Subscriber Stations and Base Stations conforming to the IEEE 802.16 standards.
Charter:
  •  Detailed System Profiles including PHY, MAC, RF, Power Class and Duplex mode, derived
     from requirements developed by relevant Working Groups. The development of the System
     Profiles is based on a harmonized set of assumptions and simulation test beds developed
     within TWG.
  •  Normative technical documents required for certification, which include but may not be
     limited to PICS, TSS&TP and RCT documents.
  •  Develop and maintain plans and schedules of all tasks and deliverables and keep track of the
     WG's progress.
  •  Serve as a forum for the discussion of select technical issues affecting commercialization of
     WiMAX compliant products.
  •  Establish liaisons with other WIMAX Forum Working Groups where relevant.
  •  The TWG will be responsible for investigating and making recommendations on
     implementation of applications submitted by the AWG, SPWG or other relevant WGs.
  •  The TWG may develop recommended practices guidelines/documents on
     implementations/deployments of specific applications to assist developers and operators.
  •  Assist CWG in developing Plugfest Guideline documents which describe the test set-ups and
     scenarios executed in WiMAX Forum Plugfest activities for the OFDMA air interface TWG is
     the primary developer of relevant technical materials related to OFDMA Air Interface
     (MAC/PHY).