Verso announced today the successful completion of a trial of its VoIP products operating on a Pre-WiMAX (IEEE802.16a) network. The trial was with Telkom South Africa (SA), in conjunction with Verso’s partner, Saab Grintek Technologies, one of South Africa’s leading information technology, telecommunications solutions and integration companies.

This trial enabled WiFi-compatible personal digital assistants (PDAs) to have access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) by utilizing customer premise gateways (CPGs) and then backhauled using WiMAX technology to an existing Telkom central office. This trial solution was successfully deployed using Verso’s Class 4 and Class 5 softswitching and gateway technologies (BHG2500).

WiMAX is a standards-based wireless technology that provides high-throughput broadband connections over long distances. WiMAX can be used for a number of applications, including “last mile” broadband connections, hotspots and cellular backhaul, and high-speed enterprise connectivity for business.

The demand for broadband wireless Internet access has climbed steadily in recent years. Reaching customers with traditional broadband connectivity has been very expensive in existing metro environments that lack copper or fiber infrastructure, or in geographical areas that are difficult to reach with traditional broadband technologies. These include rural areas within the African continent with low population density, as well as emerging markets in the developing world with little or no existing communications infrastructure.

Broadband wireless promises to reach these markets without the cost of a hard-wired infrastructure. The potential benefits of a WiMAX network include reaching more customers, delivering more services to existing customers and lowering the cost of delivery, producing greater revenue for carriers and content providers with lower costs.

“This trial demonstrates Verso’s ability to provide carrier grade VoIP solutions and applications and specifically demonstrates that Verso can successfully deliver voice and data over a WiMAX network,” said Monty Bannerman, chief executive officer, Verso Technologies. “Verso’s goal is to create a well aligned product portfolio which supports new market opportunities, cultivates and strengthens existing relationships and delivers superior value to our customers and partners in the African region. We feel that the company is well positioned to leverage the high growth opportunities afforded by WiMAX. We are pleased to be working with our long-time partner Saab Grintek and look forward to a long standing relationship with Telkom SA,” continued Bannerman.

Recent Entries

• Scientists warn that Skype is an ideal vehicle for hackers
• Netgear WiFi phone - for Skype!
• Windows Live Messenger Phone
• Uniden and 8×8 Introduce New Generation of Co-Branded VoIP Products
• Jawbone information
• ZyXEL VoIP WiFi phone
• VoIP Security
• Sennheiser Introduces Two VoIP Headsets
• Verizon VoiceWing
• Skype headphones and microphones

This entry was posted on Monday, December 19th, 2005 at 12:18 pm and is filed under Africa. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.