IEEE 802.16m aims to develop a novel radio interface as part of the IEEE 802.16 WirelessMAN-OFDMA specification to fulfill the criteria set by IMT-Advanced, the next generation of mobile networks. This signifies that IEEE 802.16m will have the capability to support varying data rates, reaching up to approximately 100 Mbps for scenarios involving high mobility (up to 250 km/h), such as mobile access, and scaling up to about 1 Gbps for situations with low mobility, such as nomadic or local wireless access.

To accommodate this wide range of data rates, IEEE 802.16m will employ scalable bandwidths, including options like 5, 7, 8.75, and 10 MHz. Additionally, IEEE 802.16m will be specifically designed to operate within licensed frequency bands designated for IMT-Advanced.

The plan for IEEE 802.16m is to finalize and deliver the specification between 2009 and 2010.