The WiMAX Forum said it has more than doubled its membership in the last five months from 28 companies to 67, with carriers such as AT&T among the newest members.

With the 802.16a standard approved one year ago, work on the 802.16e standard progressing, and the business case for broadband fixed wireless metropolitan area networks and backhaul becoming more viable, the forum, launched last year by Intel, Alvarion and other companies, is becoming central to the WiMAX movement.

Recent carrier members joining the forum include AT&T, Covad and Hong Kong-based PCCW. New vendors signing up include Siemens mobile, China-based ZTE Corp, Axxcelera Broadband Wireless, Beamreach Networks, Intracom, KarlNet, NextNet Wireless, REMEC and Vyyo.

WiMAX Forum President Margaret LaBrecque said, "This is the first of what will be many significant milestones for the WiMAX Forum this year, as we work to bring WiMAX-Certified products to market."

Christopher Rice, director of broadband networking technology at AT&T Labs Research, said the carrier is currently exploring several types of broadband network access alternatives, and that the WiMAX Forum’s work on standards and interoperability will help drive down the cost of 802.16 technology.

The announcement of new members came just in advance of WiMAX Forum Day, to be held Tuesday, Jan. 20 at the 10th Annual WCA Technical Symposium and Business Expo in San Jose, Calif.