Intel has released its first WiMAX product, previously codenamed "Rosedale" and now known formally as the PRO/Wireless 5116 broadband interface device.

The PRO/Wireless 5116 is based on the IEEE 802.16-2004 standard, and is designed to give wireless carriers and end-users the confidence that equipment from different vendors will work together. (WiMAX solutions based on 802.16-2004 enable the creation of high-speed, fixed wireless broadband networks, providing Internet connectivity, Internet Protocol (IP) and TDM Voice capabilities and IP-based real-time video at high speeds.)

Intel reports that "several service providers worldwide announced plans to begin commercial WiMAX trials based on Intel silicon products in the second quarter of 2005."
 
The chip is built around a high-performance Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) modem. Channel bandwidths and data rates are programmable and support a wide range of applications and regulatory domains.

The dual-core processor architecture provides manufacturers with functional flexibility and programmability for their MAC and software applications. Integration of a 10/100 MAC, inline security processing, and a TDM controller interface enables IP-based applications and legacy voice applications.

The PRO/Wireless 5116 is actually a system on chip (SoC) for both licensed and license-exempt radio frequencies. When combined with third-party RFICs and power amplifiers, "manufacturers can create a broad range of outdoor and indoor self-installable WiMAX modems and residential gateways capable of delivering high-rate IP-based data, voice, and real-time video," Intel says. The company has also announced that the chip's hardware implementations will be available through third-party original design manufacturers (ODMs).