Editing WiMAX (section)

=== Spectrum allocation ===
There is no uniform global licensed spectrum for WiMAX, however the WiMAX Forum published three licensed spectrum profiles: 2.3&nbsp;GHz, 2.5&nbsp;GHz and 3.5&nbsp;GHz, in an effort to drive standardisation and decrease cost.

In the US, the biggest segment available was around 2.5&nbsp;GHz,<ref name=usspectrum>{{cite web|title=U.S. Frequency Allocation Chart|url=http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.pdf|publisher=[[United States Department of Commerce|Department of Commerce]]|access-date=2008-03-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309173208/http://www.ntia.doc.gov/osmhome/allochrt.pdf|archive-date=2008-03-09|url-status=live}}</ref> and is already assigned, primarily to [[Sprint Nextel]] and [[Clearwire]]. Elsewhere in the world, the most-likely bands used will be the Forum approved ones, with 2.3&nbsp;GHz probably being most important in Asia. Some countries in Asia like [[India]] and [[Indonesia]] will use a mix of 2.5&nbsp;GHz, 3.3&nbsp;GHz and other frequencies. [[Pakistan]]'s [[Wateen Telecom]] uses 3.5&nbsp;GHz.

Analog TV bands (700&nbsp;MHz) may become available, but await the complete [[digital television transition]], and other uses have been suggested for that spectrum. In the USA the FCC [[Spectrum auction|auction for this spectrum]] began in January 2008 and, as a result, the biggest share of the spectrum went to Verizon Wireless and the next biggest to AT&T.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/default.htm?job=auctions_sched|title=Auctions Schedule|publisher=[[Federal Communications Commission]]|access-date=2008-01-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080124164231/http://wireless.fcc.gov/auctions/default.htm?job=auctions_sched|archive-date=2008-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref> Both of these companies stated their intention of supporting [[3GPP Long Term Evolution|LTE]], a technology which competes directly with WiMAX. EU commissioner [[Viviane Reding]] has suggested re-allocation of 500–800&nbsp;MHz spectrum for wireless communication, including WiMAX.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/communications/0,39044192,62021021,00.htm |title=European Commission proposes TV spectrum for WiMax |website=Zdnetasia.com |access-date=2008-01-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214014416/http://www.zdnetasia.com/news/communications/0%2C39044192%2C62021021%2C00.htm |archive-date=2007-12-14 |url-status=live }}</ref>

WiMAX profiles define channel size, [[Duplex (telecommunications)|TDD/FDD]] and other necessary attributes in order to have interoperating products. The current fixed profiles are defined for both TDD and FDD profiles. At this point, all of the mobile profiles are TDD only. The fixed profiles have channel sizes of 3.5&nbsp;MHz, 5&nbsp;MHz, 7&nbsp;MHz and 10&nbsp;MHz. The mobile profiles are 5&nbsp;MHz, 8.75&nbsp;MHz and 10&nbsp;MHz. (Note: the 802.16 standard allows a far wider variety of channels, but only the above subsets are supported as WiMAX profiles.)

Since October 2007, the Radio communication Sector of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU-R) has decided to include WiMAX technology in the IMT-2000 set of standards.<ref>{{cite web|title=ITU Radiocommunication Assembly approves new developments for its 3G standards|url=http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2007/30.html|website=Itu.int|access-date=2008-03-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090519050045/http://www.itu.int/newsroom/press_releases/2007/30.html|archive-date=2009-05-19|url-status=live}}</ref> This enables spectrum owners (specifically in the 2.5–2.69&nbsp;GHz band at this stage) to use WiMAX equipment in any country that recognizes the IMT-2000.