Sprint Nextel and Samsung have agreed to engage in joint wireless broadband technology efforts to test the IEEE 802.16e standard and drive the development of advanced wireless broadband services.

The agreement involves testing of prototype terminals and supporting core network equipment to help substantiate next-generation wireless network infrastructure requirements for future wireless interactive multimedia services. The collaboration will involve lab trials at company facilities and field trials with customers, as well as interoperability testing with Sprint Nextel ecosystem partners in order to verify the specifications of 802.16e technology.

"The agreement with Samsung will help align technologies and validate requirements for future wireless offerings," explained Barry West, Sprint Nextel chief technology officer. "We are evaluating multiple options for 2.5GHz applications and fostering strategic relationships with ecosystem partners who are vital to progress on next-generation wireless broadband access and infrastructure."

"Once again, Samsung is working closely with Sprint to drive the next generation of wireless services," said Thomas Jasny, VP of Wireless Broadband Networks for Samsung Telecommunications America. "The 802.16e standard will help support the deployment of true wireless broadband."

Samsung has been a key driver of the 802.16e standard and intends to be the first company to give a trial performance at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit this year and commercially launch high-bandwidth wireless data access technology early next year in Korea. Wireless Broadband (WiBro) and Mobile WiMax are services enabled by the standard and are seen as offering mobile / portable solutions, high performance, wide-area services and global standardization. Samsung will utilize the experience gained from this research to drive ongoing development of WiMax equipment for the global market, including the United States.