Special Issue: What's New @ IEEE Year-in-Review
This month's issue of What's New @ IEEE in Wireless will take a look
back at the most popular news stories for the past year, ranked in
order of popularity based on the number of clicks received.
IEEE Communications Society Launches New Wireless Communications Certificate Program
A new program to certify the competency, practical knowledge and skills
of practicing communications engineers has been launched by the IEEE
Communications Society. The IEEE Wireless Communication Engineering
Technologies (IEEE WCET) Certification program, designed to address the
worldwide wireless industry’s growing need for qualified communications
professionals, will help wireless professionals advance in their field,
develop new opportunities in a global marketplace and certify their
expertise with real-world applications.
The IEEE WCET Certification exam is administered online, and has a
program fee of US$450 for IEEE members and US$500 for non-members. The
first testing period is scheduled for late September 2008 at more than
500 testing sites located in 75 countries. The next testing period is
slated for March 2009. Wireless areas including RF engineering,
propagation and antennas; access technologies; network and service
architecture; network management and security; facilities
infrastructure; agreements, standards, policies and regulations; and
fundamental knowledge are covered in the exam. For more information on
IEEE WCET Certification, visit the program web site.
For specific program details, read the full press release.
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Fourth Generation Wireless Choice May Be on Horizon
Just as third generation (3G) wireless networks begin to proliferate,
the focus of many manufacturers has already shifted to fourth
generation (4G) wireless networks. Although consumers in many countries
have yet to experience 3G network technology, equipment-makers are
already developing new devices and gadgets for the next generation of
wireless: LTE and WiMax. While both 4G technologies promise fast,
ubiquitous broadband, experts say a choice between the two may be
inevitable, with some predicting that one of the technologies will
become integrated into the other.
Read article
Learn more about 4G wireless networks in IEEE Xplore®
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Designing Software for Multi-Standard Wireless
Wireless baseband processing is a demanding application that requires a
high-performance, power-efficient solution. Systems must also be
flexible in order to accommodate the demands of multiple standards. An
article on ElectronicsWeekly.com outlines various factors and what to
look for in the design process of multi-standard wireless systems.
Highlights include choosing the processor, handling software issues for
multi-processor systems and choosing the best interconnect technology.
Read article
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IEEE Researching Gigabit WiFi
IEEE is considering two possible technologies which could take WiFi to
Gigabit speeds by 2012. Gigabit WiFi is practical, according to IEEE's
Very High Throughput (VHT) study group. The group is lobbying to get
work started on a faster wireless LAN standard even as IEEE postponed
its final publication of 802.11n, today’s current top WiFi and a
potentially faster ultra-wideband technology. Almost all WiFi vendors
have products which meet the draft 802.11n specification and claim of
up to 600Mbit/s, although actual throughput only approaches the
100Mbit/s of normal Ethernet. The VHT study group has suggested two
avenues to real Gigabit throughput on WiFi networks, one using
frequencies below 6GHz, where current WiFi networks operate, and the
other above 60GHz, where much unlicensed short range radio spectrum is
available.
Read article
Learn more about WiFi in IEEE Xplore®
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Communications Society Offers Free Tutorial and Webinar
The IEEE Communications Society is pleased to offer a free online
tutorial presentation and a free webinar on wireless technologies.
Free Tutorial: Advances in Wireless Local Area Networks
Duration: 2 hours, 10 minutes.
Presented by Analog Devices, the tutorial provides a concise
discussion on several key topics related to current and emerging 802.11
technologies. Learn more
Free Webinar: Ethernet for the Carrier
Date: Thursday, 24 April 2008, 11:00 am EDT
Duration: 90 minutes
Moderated by Joseph Berthold, Ciena, the webinar will discuss
what’s new, what’s different and lessons learned in the field of
carrier Ethernet. Specific topics include carrier migration from TDM to
Ethernet; feature requirements and critical standards; system
architecture challenges; SLA, OA&M and other enhancements of
carrier over enterprise Ethernet; and cost-effective implementation of
silicon and systems. Register now
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Communications Society Offers Free Technology Tutorials
The IEEE Communications Society is pleased to offer three free online
tutorial presentations covering the latest in broadband technology.
WiMax: Mobilizing the Internet
Discusses how WiMax technology has changed the way we use the Internet.
Next Generation Cellular Networks
Emphasizes the fundamental concepts and design tradeoffs involved
with next generation cellular networks and discusses relevant
algorithms for maximizing performance.
Broadband Fiber Access
Covers broadband fiber access technologies currently being employed
and discusses new concepts and technologies that will be implemented in
the future.
Free access for these tutorials is for a limited time only. Sign up today
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Wireless Modules Allow Engineers to Build Wireless Links in an Afternoon
Nordic Semiconductor, IEEE Enterprise Subscriber, has announced the
release of several pre-approved RF modules, making it easy for
designers without specialized RF knowledge to build an Ultra-Low Power
(ULP) ISM-band wireless link into a product or application within
hours. Designed by RF Digital, the modules have been created with all
the RF development work already complete, requiring only a digital
In/Out, power (+V) and ground (GND) connection. Designed to work in
almost any operating environment or product design, the modules are
particularly attractive to product designers that may be new to
wireless. RF Digital has also developed six off-the-shelf application
modules ready for instant drop-in. All application modules are FCC and
IC-approved and European CE approval is expected soon. Read article
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Consortium Established to Develop Close Proximity Wireless Technology
The world’s top technology companies recently announced an agreement to
form a consortium to develop specifications for interconnecting
products using TransferJet a new interoperable wireless transfer
technology that enables rapid transfer of high resolution video, music
and images. The TransferJet Consortium plans to promote a wide range of
products and services incorporating TransferJet technology with the aim
of accelerating its adoption throughout the consumer electronics
industry. The consortium will also develop specifications and
guidelines ensuring interoperability between products incorporating the
technology, establish licensing schemes and administer the use of the
TransferJet logo.
Read article
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IEEE Approves Mobile Broadband Wireless Access Standard
IEEE has approved a new standard for mobile broadband wireless access.
The new standard, IEEE 802.20, will enable the worldwide deployment of
cost-effective, spectrum-efficient, ubiquitous, always-on and
interoperable multi-vendor mobile broadband wireless access networks.
The standard specifies physical and medium access control layers of an
air interface for interoperable mobile broadband wireless access
systems and allows for a significantly larger number of possible active
users than what can be achieved by existing mobile systems. Read article
Learn more about IEEE 802.20 in IEEE Xplore®
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Standards Compete for Future of 4G
Mobile vendors are jockeying over competing standards WiMax, LTE (Long
Term Evolution) and UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband) as the future of
next-generation 4G wireless broadband networks. AT&T recently
joined Verizon Wireless in support of LTE, which China Mobile is also
expected to back. In the WiMax camp, Sprint Nextel and KDDI in Japan
are committed to roll out networks this year; Intel, Motorola and
Samsung were early supporters. All leading telecoms infrastructure
vendors exhibited WiMax kits in Barcelona, but equipment makers are
also racing to ready LTE equipment. WiMax has the advantage of being
ready for deployment now—as well as an endorsement by the International
Telecommunications Union. LTE technology deployment is expected to take
until late 2009. Alcatel-Lucent and NEC, however, just announced a
joint venture to pool their LTE resources, possibly accelerating
development. UMB, backed by Qualcomm, is the furthest away from
commercial use.
Read article
Learn more about 4G wireless networks in IEEE Xplore®
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