Samsung shows off super-fast WiMax

Samsung is demonstrating a version of WiMax it claims can transport data at double the speed of current 3G mobile technologies.

The "Mobile WiMax Wave 2" system uses MIMO (multiple input multiple output) technology and smart antennas to realise speeds of around 34Mbp/s downstream from the network to the user and about 8Mbp/s in the opposite direction, the company said in a statement.

MIMO involves sending data using multiple antennas to increase the total data throughput. At those speeds it's possible to download an MP3 music file in about one second and a full CD of data in less than three minutes, the company said.

A commercial service based on the technology on show at the 3GSM trade show in Barcelona is planned by Sprint Nextel in the U.S. later this year. The carrier will use Mobile WiMax to supplement its 3G cellular service and plans to reach 100 million U.S. residents with the new network by the end of 2008.

Before that service can be utilised terminals compatible with the network are needed. At 3GSM Samsung will also be showing a chipset compatible with the technology that can be integrated into devices. Competitors have also been showing similar chips recently.

On Monday NXP Semiconductors and Israel's Runcom Technologies said they also planned to offer a chipset compatible with the Wave 2 system.