The LTE Vs WiMAX rivalry in the US is expected to formally begin when LTE commercially rolls out in November. So far, it appears that LTE 4G is the favorite over WiMAX in the impending 4G clash. However, the WiMax 2 standard is up and ready to go and raise the competition to another level by the start of 2012.

According to Declan Byrne, the marketing director for the WiMax Forum industry group, the WiMax 2 standard, formally known as 802.16m, will be finalized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) this November.

WiMAX 4G devices based on the new standard are expected to be certified throughout 2011 and ISPs may start deploying the standard commercially throughout 2012. WiMAX 2 is expected to be significantly faster than its predecessor.

According to WiMAX Forum Vice President Mohammad Shakouri, the new WiMAX standard may be able to to deliver average downlink speeds of more than 100Mbps to users. Unfortunately, the major speed boost will only be able to reach around 31 square miles per access point.

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