IEEE 802.16 Session #8 Report

Working Group 802.16

The IEEE 802.16 Working Group on Broadband Wireless Access Standards is creating the WirelessMAN^TM family of standards for wireless metropolitan area networks. The mission of Working Group 802.16 is "to develop standards and recommended practices to support the development and deployment of fixed broadband wireless access systems." 802.16 is a unit of the 802 LAN/MAN Standards Committee, the premier transnational forum for wired and wireless networking standardization.

Task Group 1

Task Group 1 (TG1) is developing an Air Interface for Fixed Broadband Wireless Access Systems (10-66 GHz) under IEEE PAR 802.16.1. At Session #8, the group accepted a revised PHY 802.16.1p-00/07r2 after considering several proposals on Forward Error Correction and a proposed major edit (802.16.1pc-00/38) of the previous draft; the changes were described in 802.16.1pc-00/42. TG1 then resolved to develop its MAC draft on the basis of 802.16.1mc-00/21r1. In order to remain on schedule for completion of a Working Group draft of 802.16.1 before the end of the year, the Task Group agreed to move to a Final Task Group Review. This electronic comment submittal process, soliciting specific change requests, will begin by 4 August and close on 1 September. The plan gives an editorial team almost three weeks to produce a single coherent document based on 802.16.1p-00/07r2, 802.16.1mc-00/21r1, and the 802.16.1 Functional Requirements (802.16s-99/00r1). The intent is to, at Session #9, review the results and initiate a Working Group Letter Ballot based on an updated version.

Task Group 2

Task Group 2 (TG2) is developing a Recommended Practice on Coexistence of Broadband Wireless Access Systems under IEEE PAR 802.16.2. The draft document was reviewed and changes recommended for several sections. Modeling results were reviewed, with results incorporated into document as appropriate. The timeline was revised (802.16.2-00/02r2), but the process remains on schedule to initiate a Working Group letter ballot in November.

Task Group 3

Task Group 3 (TG3) is developing an Air Interface for Fixed Broadband Wireless Access Systems in Licensed Bands from 2 to 11 GHz under IEEE PAR 802.16.3. TG3 continued to focus mainly on developing its Functional Requirements; it and completed resolution of the many comments it had received. A new version will be accompanied by a Call for Comments in time for comment resolution at Session #9. TG3 also developed a list of Key Characteristics of the 802.16.3 Air Interface Standard (802.16.3-00/07r1) and it issued its reactions to a press release from the IEEE-ISTO (802.16.3-00/08). Four motions recommended in this document were later approved by Working Group 802.16.

WirelessHUMAN^TM Study Group

The Wireless High-Speed Unlicensed Metropolitan Area Network (WirelessHUMAN^TM) Study Group is studying standardization for broadband fixed wireless access in the 5-6 GHz license-exempt bands, with primary focus on the 5.25-5.35 GHz and 5.725-5.825 GHz bands. It conducted a well-attended tutorial (802.16hp-00/08) for IEEE 802 on Monday 10 July. It then met during the week and issued a Study Group Report (802.16hp-00/09) requesting its renewal through Session #10, with an indication of intent to draft a Project Authorization Request (PAR) based on standards that either exist or are in development. The Study Group report includes text of a Call for Contributions and of two liaison letters. On 13 July, 802.16 voted to continue the Study Group through Session #10 based on this report. This decision was affirmed by the IEEE 802 Executive Committee on 13 July.

Liaison Letters

Based on a previous liaison letter and a meeting between the 802.16 Chair and ETSI BRAN Chair Jamshid Khun-Jush, 802.16 issued a Liaison Letter to ETSI BRAN 802.16l-00/19. Based on input from TG3, 802.16 issued a second ETSI BRAN Liaison Letter (802.16l-00/21). Based on input from TG2, 802.16 issued a Liaison Letter to ETSI TM4 (802.16l-00/20). All three of these letters were approved by the IEEE 802 Executive Committee on 13 July.

IEEE 802 Position Statement on IEEE 802.16 Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Working Group Conflict of Interest with recent IEEE-ISTO announcement

Based on input from 802.16 and several other 802 Working Group, IEEE 802 issued an IEEE 802 Position Statement on IEEE 802.16 Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) Working Group Conflict of Interest with recent IEEE-ISTO announcement.

Attendance and Membership

At Session #8, the 802.16 membership increased by 28, from 78 to 106. In addition, four people earned membership status but did not claim it. The total sign-in attendance at the meeting was 165.

Future Meetings

The Working Group voted on 13 July to hold Session #11 in Tel Aviv, Israel on 22-26 January 2001. The host will be Naftali Chayat of BreezeCOM. Session #9 will be held in Denver, Colorado, USA on 11-15 September in conjunction with the IEEE Radio and Wireless Conference; a meeting announcement will be issued soon. Session #10 will be held in Tampa, Florida, USA on 6-10 November in conjunction with an IEEE 802 Plenary Meeting.