VeriSign Wins WiMAX Authentication Contract

July 18, 2006

VeriSign says that it has been selected by the WiMAX Forum to provide a single, trusted device authentication standard across broadband wireless networks based on WiMAX standards. Under the agreement, VeriSign will operate the WiMAX root CA used to create a single, trusted device authentication standard for WiMAX networks.

The VeriSign Custom Device Certificate Service (CDCS) allows embedding X.509-standard digital certificates into all WiMAX Forum Certified hardware devices based on IEEE 802.16-2004 and ETSI HiperMAN 1.2.1 standards. Using strong certificate-based authentication allows service providers to ensure network access, digital content and software services can be secured from unauthorized access.

"VeriSign has proven experience creating interoperable trust models, and demonstrated a deep understanding of the WiMAX requirements, giving us the confidence that they are the best choice to secure the millions of WiMAX devices that will be deployed," said Ron Resnick, president and chair, WiMAX Forum. "VeriSign met the WiMAX requirements for a PKI Trust Model and can provide scalable, robust PKI trust services to our more than 350 member corporations worldwide."