Testing… Testing… 1-2-3…

In the world of 4G chipsets, much of the noise today involves the race to develop a commercially-ready product.  Thanks to lots of hard work and a couple of bets placed in the right areas, Altair has already crossed that finish line.  But I write that not to brag, although we are proud of our achievements to-date, but to let you all know that a commercially-ready product is just the beginning.

The “commercial availability” end will only come after successful testing has taken place.

And you may even thank me down the road for providing you this warning … and this information.

So what’s required, when it comes to testing?

Well, first, we have to delineate between WIMAX and LTE.  WIMAX is an IEEE-based standard.   That’s fine, in and of itself, but it does not help matters when it comes time for testing, since IEEE only defines functionality standards and stays away from testing.

On the other hand, the 3GPP-based LTE standard covers both functionality and testing.  This means that when the product is ready and it is time for testing, LTE-based chipsets and devices are able to progress much faster.

Second, the WIMAX players are generally more PC-centric, versus wireless/cellular-centric.  Most don’t have experience with the rigorous testing processes that are necessary for 4G.  Most of the LTE players, which typically come from a 2/3G background, already have testing processes in place because they understand the value of testing in real-world scenarios.

Lastly, while not a grueling aspect of product readiness, testing is a process that takes at least a year and a half to complete, due to the fact that there are many combinations to test. 

That may sound like a long time, but WIMAX, in comparison, has a two and a half year testing process.

Testing is just one element of the fascinating world of 4G.  So stay tuned for much more in this space about this and other key issues facing this highly competitive, growing industry. 

-Eran Eshed