Middle East

Samsung Contracted for WiMAX Network in Kazakhstan

Michael Licata on May 10, 2010

Alem Communications and Samsung Electronics struck a deal to have Samsung supply Alem with a complete mobile WiMAX network. Digital TV, an Alem subsidiary launched its first commercial mobile WiMAX in Almaty, Kazakhstan on May 1.

Samsung provided its field-proven 2.5 GHz mobile WiMAX solution. They’ve installed base stations, service network gateways and other service-related equipment.

“”We’re very pleased to partner with Samsung, an industry-leading mobile WiMAX provider, to bring true mobile broadband services to our customers in Kazakhstan,” Grigory Grigorov, CEO of Alem Communications, said, “We are confident that mobile WiMAX will enrich the Kazakhstani people’s access to information and communications and provide a more efficient environment for Kazakhstan’s business community.”

Alem Communications will deploy mobile WiMAX in several other Kazakhstan cities, including the capital of Astana. Mobile WiMAX provides mobility options that aren’t available in fixed WiMAX applications. USB dongles, along with WiMAX-enabled laptops will be available to the Kazakhstani people. Grigorov is right about the e-learning possibilities, and it will give users the opportunity to grow through wireless internet technology. There are also opportunities for smart grids and other technology that enables municipalities to monitor water meters, the electrical grid and live cameras at busy intersections.… Read the rest

Mobily Completes Coverage of Saudi capital

Michael Licata on March 22, 2010

Mobily has completed total WiMAX coverage of Riyadh. Mobily began WiMAX in the Saudi capital in September 2008 with an initial investment of $399 million. Mobily’s WiMAX subscribers can access speeds of up to 2Mbps anywhere within the city.

‘Mobily is working on covering most of the kingdom’s cities and regions with WiMAX as per its technical plan,’ said Abdulaziz Altamami, Mobily’s chief operating officer.

Photo Courtesy of FlickrJunkie via Flickr… Read the rest

Mobily and Bridgewater Team for Backhaul Solution

Michael Licata on March 8, 2010

Mobily and Bridgewater Systems have partnered to manage smart networks, applications, and policies across Mobily’s WiMAX networks in the Middle East. Bridgewater will provide solution that authorizes subscribers and accounting functions.

“Mobily operates the largest and busiest mobile broadband network in the Middle East,” said Abdulaziz Al-Tamami, COO. Mobily said in the press conference at Barcelona – “We selected Bridgewater due to their unique ability to provide a highly scalable control plane solution that enables us to manage mobile data traffic growth and deliver new services across our HSPA, WiMAX ( News – Alert) and Wi-Fi networks.”

18 million subscribers chose Mobily as their mobile broadband internet provider. Bridgewater’s solution will give Mobily better security features and the ability to manage unforeseeable data growth as networks and subscriber bases grow. Mobily will be able to meter and monitor bandwidth for its subscribers, offering a pre-paid WiMAX service.

Operators are teaming with backhaul solution providers to prepare for an increase in subscriber bases during the first quarter of 2010. It’s a great sign for the osmosis of WiMAX from niche technology to mainstream.

Photo Courtesy of superciliousness via Flickr… Read the rest

NSN Contracted by Wi Tribe for Phase 2 Build Out

Michael Licata on March 5, 2010

Wi-Tribe has contracted Nokia Siemens Network to help continue its WiMAX build out in Pakistan. NSN will offer their services of site deliver and project management for Wi Tribe’s WiMAX expansion project.

NSN will project manage, choose which sites to purchase, and assess the logistical analysis for Wi-Tribe’s Phase 2 sites. NSN will also handle the entire delivery process to streamline rollout.

Photo Courtesy of Swamibu via Flickr… Read the rest

du CEO to Participate in SUBMAR 2010

Michael Licata on March 3, 2010

du CEO Osman Sultan will particpate at SUBMAR 2010 in Dubai on April 20.

“With UAE increasingly becoming the knowledge capital for the telecommunication industry and given robust growth of the telecommunication business across the Middle East and North Africa region,” Osman Sultan said “International trade platforms such as SUBMAR provides the required platform for industry collaboration and integration through knowledge sharing. It’s an honor for me to preside over the inaugural opening of SUBMAR 2010 – that promises to attract some of the largest telecommunication services providers and some of the brightest talent across the global on one unified forum.”

SUBMAR 2010 will showcase the scope of marine cabling, telecommunications, oil, and offshore cabling in the Middle East. Participants will gain knowledge from companies such as Tycho, David Gross, Saudi Telecom, Herve, Tata Teleservices and Emarine. Topics that will be presented include Global Market: New Trends and Strategies, International Communication Cabling, Network Infrastructure, Government Policies and Rules, Bandwidth Visualization and Fiber Optic Component and Links.

MarineBizTV, the presenters of the conference, will broadcast the conference live at www.live.marinebiztv.com.… Read the rest

WiMax Coming Soon to Iran

Michael Licata on January 28, 2010 | 2 comments

Irancell began rolling out WiMax in seven cities throughout Iran during the Daheye Fajr, the 31st anniversary of the Islamic Revolution. WiMax will be availalbe in Esfaha, Ahvaz, Tabriz, Tehran, Shiraz and Mashhad.

Users with PCs or CPE equipment will have access to 64 Kb/s to 2Mb/s wireless bandwidth using WiMax. Because WiMax is reasonably priced in terms of maintenance and CPEs and has high network security, integration and no need for a cable or hard line, it is an ideal choice for Irancell. The company is offering discounts for WiMax between January 21 and February 11.

There will be different subscriber prices determined by monthly use, along with the option of an unlimited plan. Users can pre-pay or pay after each month based on their use. Irancell will offer two kinds of CPEs, both indoor and outdoor. Indoor units are smaller and easier to install while outdoor CPEs are recommended for locations where buildings are condensed or have complex structure because of their high capacity for signal reception.

Photo Courtesy of Arash R. Karimi via Flickr… Read the rest

Surveillance Processing Will Eventually Help WiMax

Cecil Taylor on January 25, 2010 | 2 comments

When GoingWiMAX.com recently asked its bloggers to forecast WiMAX developments in 2010, I was reminded of the old marketing adage, “Forecasting is difficult, especially of the future.” But expand the horizon from 2010 to the remainder of the decade, and I can spot a WiMAX development that looks sure-fire to me. And I start by looking at the past.

It’s been a trend since the Romans started building roads to move their troops across the Roman Empire: Products invented for war-making purposes eventually find application in commercial civilian use.

As a result of the United States’ lengthy involvement in Iran and Afghanistan, a number of military technologies have begun the trek into commercialization in recent years. Thermal imaging devices are now implanted in luxury automobiles. Virtual training platforms now help train workers in fields as diverse as emergency operations and taxi driving. A new generation of prosthetic devices, whose research was underfunded until unfortunate bomb incidents in Iraq and Afghanistan created waves of veteran amputees, is now being developed.

So it must pique the interest of those advocating WiMAX in surveillance applications to see new video processing technology being developed to analyze the flood of information cascading from drone aircraft in Afghanistan in particular. Within the next five to ten years, the analytical software being developed for the military could propagate into commercial use, launching a wider adoption of broadband surveillance video in police and security settings –and probably in other heretofore unconsidered areas as well.

Recently the New York Times characterized the military surveillance problem. Video collected by drones rose 300% from 2007 to 2009. New Reaper drones have more video capability than the Predator drones they’re replacing, with 10 cameras aiming in different directions, and an upgrade to 30 cameras scheduled for next year. Meanwhile, the military must devote increasing numbers of soldiers to analyzing the video as it arrives. In a military being enhanced to do more with fewer troops, it makes sense to not only automate but to speed up the analysis process.
Other requirements include sharing more data between branches and agencies such as the CIA, and annotating the raw video with graphics, text and other data.

Can you imagine Homeland Security wanting this technology? Police departments? Security details? Paparazzi? OK, I’m joking (a little) on the last one, but the point is that if the technology is available, there will … Read the rest

Azerbaijan Gets Commercial WiMax Network

Michael Licata on January 6, 2010

baku_azerbaijan_05

Delta Telecom has launched a commercial mobile WiMax network in the Azerbaijan capital of Baku and the Absheron Peninsula. It started with 110 base station installations in those locations.

The commercial WiMax packages with range in cost, from AZN10 to AZN100. The company is now working to deploy WiMax services throughout other parts of the country, including Guba, Ganja and Astara. It will require the installation of another 140 base stations.

Delta plans for their current WiMAX network integration with Long Term Evolution (LTE) technology to enable mobile broadband access and services such as Internet-Provided Television, mobile video blogging and online gaming.… Read the rest

More WiMax Coverage Now in Saudi Arabia

Michael Licata on December 28, 2009 | 2 comments

riyadh-saudi-arabia_

Etihad Etisalat (Mobily) extended its WiMax coverage to more districts in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Thanks to Bayanat Al-Oula, Mobily’s data arm, residents of these districts can now enjoy extremely fast Internet access through a WiMax network.

The latest districts covered are Mekal, Al Yamamah, Al Salam, west Uraijaa, Al Rayyan, Zahret Al-Badea, Al Khaleej, Araka and Al-Maezlia, Al Hazm, Oum Elhamam Al Gharby , Soultanah, Al Aziziyah, Al Marwah, Al Khalidiya, Zahret Labn, Al Chemissi, Al Dar Albidaa, Al saada, Al Swedey, Labn, Shubra, Al Swedey, Al Gharby. A company spokesman recently stated that the company is working to build a complete WiMax coverage area in all major cities in Saudi Arabia.

WiMax is the latest wireless technology that facilitates high-speed broadband internet services. The sheer simplicity of using WiMax makes it the medium of choice for users who have access to it. All a user needs to do is fire up a WiMax router to get online quickly. Moreover, the user can take his or her router anywhere with them anywhere in the world, as long as WiMax coverage is available.

Mobily is keen to provide its customers with the latest in telecommunications and broadband technology. Its national WiMax project is part of Mobily’s drive to make the Internet available to everyone in the Kingdom, which maintaining its highest standards of quality and usability.… Read the rest

Wateen Telecom to Expand WiMax Services Across Pakistan

Elizabeth Dickey on December 21, 2009 | 2 comments

Motorola Inc.’s Home & Networks Mobility business announced today that Wateen Telecom has advanced its rollout of WiMax services with hopes of doubling its current customer premises equipment (CPE) volume from 100,000 to 200,000 by the end of the year. Wateen Telecom is a Pakistani telecommunication company based in Lahore, Pakistan and is the Abu Dhabi Group’s latest communication investment in Pakistan. With the collaboration of Motorola, they plan on deploying a WiMax network across the country.

Motorola’s recent success in WiMax distribution involves the announcement of shipping its one millionth WiMax CPE. Chief executive officer of Wateen, Tariq Malik said, “We required leading WiMax technology to provide first-class services and meet customer demands across an extended Pakistani network and after a competitive review selected Motorola to provide next-generation WiMax CPE units. We are confident that the deployment of the CPE products will enhance Wateen’s position as a leading telecommunications provider.”

Wateen Telecom’s forward-thinking plan is shooting to reach a much larger customer base by addressing the increasing demand for their services. Ali Amer, vice president of Middle East, Africa and Pakistan Motorola Home & Networks Mobility said, “Motorola’s WiMax solution supports Wateen’s growth plans by providing reliable, best-in-class performance with easy installation CPE’s. Our operational costs have been greatly reduced because we require fewer base stations and can extend higher order modulation 40 percent farther within the services areas. These attributes translate into a faster return on investment, reduced churn and greater customer satisfaction.”

As part of its latest CPE order, Wateen has chosen Motorola’s WiMax USBw 100, the outdoor cPEo 450, and the newly introduced WiMax CPE/775 and CPE/750 for indoor use within a home or office setting. Subscribers in Pakistan will range from small businesses to large enterprises with easy access to affordable wireless data and voice services from basic telephones and internet access to secure data connectivity.… Read the rest

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