WiMAX technology is 4G

The WiMAX Forum has always considered WiMAX to be a 4G technology. We say that WiMAX is 4G because it is an OFDMA-based, all-IP, data-centric technology. Another obvious reason is that WiMAX is a superior technology by any metric to 3G, so some sort of differentiation in nomenclature is called for. This is the path that all true mobile broadband technologies are taking. The generational switch from 3G to 4G technology is the migration from voice-centric and circuit-switched to data-centric and all-IP architectures. WiMAX 2 will be a further enhancement of the 4G WiMAX technology that also happens to meet the International Telecommunications Unuion’s requirements for IMT-Advanced. In much the same way, HSPA+ is a further evolution of the 3G technology HSPA. Option GlobeSurfer X.1 GSM/HSPA Router - Broadband Data and Wi-Fi.

Because of this fundamental shift in technology structure, WiMAX must logically be defined as a different generation beyond 3G. At one point we even considered calling it “1G Mobile Internet,” but we decided that might get confusing. Ironically, the industry was unable to avoid confusion on terminology despite our best efforts.
On Oct. 21, the ITU put out a press release that brought the status of WiMAX, and indeed of all currently deployed technologies, as a 4G technology into question. This generated quite a bit of press – and was really an unexpected move. The ITU traditionally has steered clear of defining 4G, and for good reason. More on RCR Wireless.