Wimax Watcher

“WiFi has changed the communications landscape, but it’s only the beginning,” said Sean Maloney, executive vice president and general manager of Intel’s Mobility Group. “WiMAX is the next broadband technology innovation that promises to bring wireless computing and connectivity to more people than ever before.”

WiMAX, short for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, is a technology that can transmit wireless Internet access at DSL or T1 speeds up to 30 miles to large metro or rural areas. WiMAX is expected to provide a cost-effective wireless alternative to cable, DSL and T1, and help to drive last-mile broadband connectivity to areas currently underserved.

As wireless broadband expands beyond the confines of building walls to citywide coverage, Intel is working with business and community leaders through a Digital Cities initiative to help develop the infrastructure and innovative services that meet the needs of local governments, citizens and businesses. The Digital Cities initiative provides a map of the tools — broadband connectivity, core computing technologies and interoperable applications — to help enable mobile workers, transform government services, increase economic vitality and enhance the livability of communities.

The PacketMAX system, based on an Advanced TCA (Telecom Computing Architecture) chassis, gives carriers the full benefits of a WiMAX Forum(TM)-certified ecosystem, a clear path to portability and mobility, powerful voice over IP features, and a common platform shared with Aperto’s existing PacketWave(R) architecture. The company expects to conduct WiMAX Forum lab certification starting in July and begin limited production shipments for 3.5 GHz systems during the third quarter of 2005(a), followed shortly by 2.5 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, supporting all WiMAX Forum TDD profiles in all frequencies.

Operators have eagerly awaited WiMAX Forum-certified systems as they expect to benefit from widespread multi-vendor interoperability, unprecedented cost economies from mass-market volumes, enhanced standardized reach, speed and superior scalability. PacketMAX is delivering on this expectation.

“Aperto’s PacketMAX systems deliver all of the patented innovations our customers value, including our best-in-class Quality of Service and our OptimaLink adaptation, while leveraging standardized silicon and physical layer as well as the flexible MAC layer we drove as leaders in the IEEE 802.16-2004 standards effort,” stated Dr. Reza Ahy, CEO of Aperto Networks. “PacketMAX is solidly on track for WiMAX Forum certification, market trials and market delivery.”

Alvariontoday announced at SUPERCOMM the extension of its BreezeMAX products to include the WCS (2.3 GHz) and BRS (formerly called MMDS, 2.5 - 2.7 GHz) frequency bands for North America. With a widely deployed WiMAX-ready system now in use by over 80 operators in more than 30 countries, U.S. carriers will be able to experience the benefits of WiMAX with BreezeMAX field trials in WCS offered at the end of 2005, followed by BRS system trials.

The new BreezeMAX 2300 and 2500 products will operate in the 2.3 GHz WCS spectrum and the 2.5 to 2.7 GHz BRS (formerly MMDS) spectrum, respectively. On the CPE side, the platform will use the new BreezeMAX CPEs with the Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 5116 broadband interface, as demonstrated at the WiMAX labs in Malaga, Spain in April. Similar to Alvarion’s widely-deployed BreezeMAX 3500, the new BreezeMAX 2300 and 2500 will feature advanced OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing) technology, toll-quality VoIP, and will be WiMAX-ready, so it will be available for WiMAX Forum Certification (TM). In addition to North America, the WCS and BRS frequencies are relevant in other regions of the world, notably Asia-Pacific, Russia and Africa. This represents another step in the company’s dedication to lead the WiMAX market in its migration as it drives market players to adopt standards-based fixed, nomadic and mobile solutions.

The market-leading BreezeMAX(TM) is a third-generation OFDM platform with advanced non-line-of-sight (NLOS) functionality designed for operators to offer broadband IP-based data and voice services. Its carrier-class design supports broadband speeds and quality of service (QoS) to enable carriers to offer multi-services to thousands of subscribers in a single cell.

Nokia and Intel Corporation today announced a cooperation to accelerate the development, adoption and deployment of WiMAX technology, helping to bring new capabilities and data services to mobile users over high-speed broadband networks.

The companies will collaborate on several areas in support of mobile WiMAX technology (IEEE 802.16e) including mobile clients, network infrastructure, industry-enabling efforts and market development. For mobile devices and notebook platforms, Intel and Nokia will work closely to identify and deliver the unique power and performance requirements of the technology, and will work on base station strategies to help deploy a WiMAX network infrastructure that will provide adequate and reliable coverage.

In addition, the companies will engage in market development efforts to demonstrate to service providers and the industry how WiMAX can enhance data service capabilities of the network while complementing existing 3G networks. Lastly, Nokia and Intel will work together to ensure successful finalization of the 802.16e standard in IEEE and related specification work in the WiMAX Forum.

Dishnet, the Chennai-based Internet service provider, is just 60 days away from launching wide area broadband wireless Net access across eight metros, making it the first mover in WiMax technology, the next ramp-up from today’s WiFi. Customers can choose from various access speed options ranging from an assured 128 kilo bits per second to one mega bits per second. Dishnet had already set up five WiMax base stations in Chennai.

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Wall Street Reporter Magazine will be hosting its third annual “Micro-Cap Investor’s Summit” on March 24, in New York City. The Micro-Cap Investors Summit offers fund managers and analysts an unparalleled opportunity to gain insight into new trends and investment opportunities in the micro-cap marketplace.

The Summit will open with the “Smart Money Roundtable”, a panel of top micro-cap experts who will share their insights, investment strategies and favorite stock picks - and pans - with attendees. Speakers include ICOA’s President, Rick Schiffmann.

With revenues up more than 360% in 2004, ICOA is moving aggressively toward its goal of being the national leader in Wi-Fi networks and services. ICOA’s President, Rick Schiffmann, will discuss his company’s recent news and plans for WiMax and VoIP opportunities.

To register for Micro-Cap Investors Summit: www.wallstreetreporter.com/mis

If you’re interested in where telecommunication is headed, an in particular, WiMax, then consider heading along to Visiongain’s WiMAX 2005 conference in London, May 11-12.

The two-day conference’s theme is WiMAX 2005 - capabilities, costs, time scales, standards and alternative solutions. The conference will provide a platform for over 20 representatives from the WiMAX Forum and the mobile industry to discuss the latest developments of WiMAX before the standards are confirmed.

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Exciting news - Tokyo is going to get the first major implementation of WiMax in the world! The Yozan MetroZone will be trialled over the next three months and then launched around October this year. It’s expected that the initial 600 base stations will be all in place in a year’s time.

Source

France Telecom is trialling 802.16 technology from three different broadband wireless vendors as a potential ADSL replacement. The trial in Lehon commenced last year and will end next month, according to Yann Rochefort, project manager of WiMax technology at France Telecom. “We used WiMax as a backhaul to deliver high-speed access to WiFi access points.” The deployment has 32 customers consisting of residential and local government office users.

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Irish Broadband plans to launch a nationwide WiMax network this year.

“We are deploying [Alvarion’s] BreezeMax equipment along with Intel. Of course we are waiting for WiMax to be ratified, but the equipment we have today is the WiMax of tomorrow. We’ll hopefully stamp it as WiMax before the end of the year.” - says managing director Paul Doody.

To date the company lays claim to “just under 10,000 subscribers” in its battle against fixed broadband incumbent Eircom Ltd. “Depending on broadband takeup we could end up with a figure of 25 to 50,000 by the end of the year,” adds the optimistic Irishman. Source