Atheros (ATHR) and China Netcom Broadband Corporation announced the joint development of WLAN services to support data, video and Voice-over-WLAN applications.

Atheros' highly integrated single chip 802.11g access point solution, the AR5006AP-G, will be featured in CNCBB's new access points and routers providing improved wireless connectivity for businesses and consumers throughout China.

The two companies will provide fast and reliable wireless connectivity using 802.11g WLAN technology to enable wider access to broadband applications such as video, games, music and other rich content on the go.

From earlier this year, CNCBB has been engaging in establishing its Broadband Wireless Industry Alliance, which brings together leading domestic and foreign equipment manufacturers, terminal vendors, service integrators and content providers to provide a full portfolio of broadband wireless services through WLAN connectivity. By adding Atheros' high performance WLAN solution, CNCBB will be able to offer enhanced broadband wireless services to China's increasingly mobile computing population. In 2003, the number of cell phone users in China, over 250 million, surpassed fixed line users.(1)

Atheros is also supporting CNCBB's new wireless initiative, CLAN, which offers cellular performance using WLAN technologies to ensure complete coverage in large hotspots, buildings and enterprises. Using Atheros-enabled wireless access points and routers, CNCBB will support VoWLAN applications via dual-mode and single-mode WiFi phones. The applications require dedicated bandwidth to support voice traffic as well as advanced hand-off and quality of service (QoS) features to ensure the integrity of VoWLAN calls is the same as wired calls.