Steve Pusey, Vodafone’s CTO, said the company remained technology neutral as far as its future network options go, and joining the WiMAX Forum was a logical step as it seeks to evaluate the full capabilities and potential of the technology.

He said it would complement existing memberships of other industry bodies such as the GSMA, 3GPP and the Next Generation Mobile Network initiative.

The WiMAX Forum now has 470 companies as members, including 141 operators.

Vodafone @home WiMAX services began in Malta in June with nationwide coverage planned by March 2008.