Elizabeth Dickey

Progress in Jordan – Mada Launches 4G Wireless Network

Elizabeth Dickey on December 22, 2009

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The 4G wireless network was officially launched by Mada Communications in Jordan on Monday, confirming that headway is being made toward increasing internet penetration in the country since its initial implementation. The network is based on Motorola’s WiMax 802.16e technology and can offer download speeds reaching 8Mbits/s. The network was built on the company’s unique Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) backbone, which has more than 170 wireless sites within the kingdom and a wide variety of dedicated wireless and fiber internet connectivity options.

This most recent development demonstrates real growth and progress of WiMax in Jordan. Just last March, Mada Communications and Motorola partnered on the commercial launch of an end-to-end 802.16e-based WiMax network, offering customers and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) voice and high speed data through broadband wireless services. At the time, the services were only available to wireless internet subscribers in Amman, Irbid, and Zarqa with hopes of major growth elsewhere. Presently, barely nine months following the initial launch of WiMax in these three areas, the network has expanded to also cover Aqaba, Madaba, Jerash, Salt and the Dead Sea.

CEO of Mada, Charles Hage, told reporters that the network will cover more major cities in 2010 and mentioned that by the end of next year, the 4G wireless network will cover 90 percent of the country. Hage added that the network will help increase the rate of internet penetration which currently stands at 28 percent.… Read the rest

Gemini Wins WiMax Deal in India

Elizabeth Dickey on December 22, 2009

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Indian network equipment provider Gemini Communication and its subsidiary PointRed Telecom won an INR 4.5bn ($93) contract from state-run telecoms operator Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) to deploy an IEEE 802.16e mobile WiMax network in India. Gemini Communication is the trusted partner in Network, Network Security, LAN, WAN, E-Governance, ITeS, IT Strategic, IT consulting and Wireless domains for thousands of small and mid-size businesses worldwide.

Under the deal, the company will build 7,000 mobile WiMax base stations across BSNL’s network. It is reported that PointRed will get 40% of the contract, with the remaining 60% to be shared between ZTE, Harris Stratex and Alvarion.

The network will connect CSC’s across India for delivering e-governance service for commercial broadband services.

Earlier this year, BSNL awarded the first phase of the INR 2.7bn ($58m) mobile Wimax project to Huawei and Gemini-PointRed. The first phase of the WiMax deployment will be completed by the end of January and involves the installation of 1,100 base stations across India. System integration will be done by Chennai firm and ZTE submitted a bid to both supply and deploy itself.

The current Indian WiMax service was set up under a revenue sharing medit in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa and Andhra Prades provinces, generally in urban areas. BSNL will continue to award urban WiMax contracts and will provide CPEs to subscribers in rural areas to complete the project by December 2010.… Read the rest

Sprint Launches U301 – First Dual Mode 3G/4G Wireless USB Modem

Elizabeth Dickey on December 21, 2009

Sprint has announced the launch of their USN U301, the carrier’s first dual-mode 3G/4G wireless USB modem. The device works on the new Clear WiMax network and allows for customers to connect with Sprint’s 4G WiMax network or its 3G mobile broadband network while on the go. Prior to the launch of the U301, Sprint’s official WiMax lineup has consisted of only one single modem, the U300.

The U301 offers 3G and WiMax the same way the U300 did, but it is smaller and comes with Mac and Windows 7 support. It offers peak downloads of more than 10Mbps with the WiMax network and peak downloads of 3.1Mbps on Sprint’s 3G network. The device will also connect to EVDO Rev. 0 and 1xRTT networks when not in a WiMax coverage area.

An authentication system ensures top-notch security. Additionally, GPS is on board for use with Sprint Navigation, Blackberry maps, and other location-based features. The U301 is compatible with PC and Mac computers. Retail price for the adapter is #349 but Sprint is offering a $299 instant rebate and $50 mail-in rebate, bringing the net hardware cost to zero. With 3G plans starting at $59.99 a month, the hybrid plan offers cheap coverage insurance an additional $10 a month – $69 monthly gets you both 3G and 4G service.… 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

WiMax Deployments Go Global

Elizabeth Dickey on December 17, 2009 | 1 comment

Despite the recession and financial woes of the country’s economy, wireless broadband internet deployments based on WiMax have reached 519 in 146 countries, including 95 Wimax networks deployed by 2G mobile operators.

FDD WiMax was accepted into the IMT-2000 family of standards and more than 50 companies endorsed the IEEE 802.16m IMT-Advanced candidate proposal for a future-proof roadmap.

To support IMT-Advanced and the WiMax Forum evolution of its technology roadmap, leading suppliers and operators this year expressed their commitment to build and trial WiMax Release 2 based on the IEEE 802.16m standard. These ecosystem backers included Alvarion, Beceem, Cisco, Clearwire, Huawei, Intel, KT, Motorola, Samsung, Sequands, UQC, Yota and ZTE.

The WiMax Forum also announced that in 2010 it will finalize its WiMax Release 2 specification in parallel with IEEE 802.16m and IMT-Advanced, ensuring that WiMax Release 2 networks and devices will remain backward compatible with legacy WiMax Release 1 based on IEEE 802.16e.

“Despite the global economy, WiMax is going strong in 2009,” said Ron Resnick, president and chairman of the WiMax Forum. “The WiMax Forum membership has continued to bring WiMax to new markets, certify devices and keep the spirit of delivering mobile Internet services to people throughout the world. We expect 2010 to bring new innovations to the WiMax ecosystem with completion of the IEEE 802.16m standard, commercialization of the global roaming program and new WiMax Forum programs to help bring certified devices to retail channels faster.”

In addition to an increase in the number of networks traced by WiMax, many of the already established WiMax networks continue to rapidly expand. A good example of such expansion includes the company Yota, which reached 250,000 active commercial users on its Russian network and passed the breakeven point with more than 2,300 subscribers added per day to its WiMax network. In April 2009, 65 product models from six vendors (Acer, Asus, Lenovo, MSI, Samsung, Toshiba) with WiMax embedded chipsets were introduced to the Russian market. In 2010, Yota expects to add a new GSM + Mobile WiMax phone supporting VoIP over WiMax.

WIreless Internet service provider Clearwire has reached over 555,000 subscribers, covering more than 30 million consumers in 34 markets and has an average revenue per user (ARPU) of nearly $40. Malaysia’s Packet One Networks, which recently celebrated its one year mark of operations in 2009, has reached 130,000 subscribers. Korean company KT and Japans … Read the rest

Clearwire Sets Sights on Merrimack for WiMax

Elizabeth Dickey on December 16, 2009 | 1 comment

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After getting rejected in Nashua, New Hampshire, wireless internet service provider Clearwire looks to bring high-speed WiMax to Merrimack. Clearwire had planned to put towers at two schools in Nashua as part of its expansion into the Greater Boston market, but plans were pulled in November after the proposal caused complaints from parents.

Towers have been a sore subject recently in Nashua. Along with the two proposed WiMax towers that were rejected, another tower for cell phones is currently under dispute. Issues regarding such towers involve unsightliness, construction costs, and safety.

Clearwire began its WiMax efforts last year after merging with Sprint and has since rolled out the service in major cities such as Portland, Oregon and Atlanta, Georgia. Many smaller cities in Texas and the Pacific Northwest have been added and locations in the Southeast are planned to start up by the end of the year.

On Thursday, the Merrimack Town Council will hold a public hearing to consider the request. Goodman Networks will represent Clearwire and area residents are encouraged to attend to give their feedback on the issue.

… Read the rest

Yota and Samsung Partner to Launch WiMax in Nicaragua

Elizabeth Dickey on December 16, 2009 | 5 comments

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Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., a leading provider of future mobile technology and Russian partner Yota, a provider of innovative mobile services, announced the launch of the mobile broadband 4G internet access network in Managua, Nicaragua. Yota is one of the world’s leaders in 4G technologies development and network deployments, providing fast mobile Internet access and a set of services based on its network. After successful deployment of Mobile WiMax in Russia, Yota decided to partner with Samsung to extend its 4G wireless services in other markets worldwide. The new Yota network in Nicaragua was rolled out in record time, just three months after the beginning of construction.

Ricardo Olarte, Northern Cone General Manager of Intel said “the broadband penetration in Latin America is very low, and is the reason why the initiative taken by Nicaragua will allow a significant leap in the adoption of new technologies placing the country at the forefront and generating a positive effect in people and businesses to improve the competitiveness of it.”

Yota services, developed during Yota’s Russian project, will be available to subscribers. The stationary VoIP device developed specially for Nicaragua, along with a line of inexpensive netbooks with embedded Intel(r) WiMax/Wifi module, will be launched in the market of the country. These devices are scheduled for sale next spring when everyone will be allowed free use of the Yota services before commercial use of the network begins in mid-2010. Because the demand for communications is so high in this area, there is great potential for this project in Nicaragua as well as other projects in the future.

In July 2009, Yota became the winner of the public international tender for 2.5-2.7 GHz spectrum, hoping to provide the whole territory of Nicaragua with communications services based on the Mobile WiMax standard. Dr. Mo Shakouri, Vice President and board member of the WiMax forum said “The implementation of this project, which is basically a rapid transition from dial-up and scarce fixed-line communications to 4G technology, will pave the way in a very short time for achieving meaningful social effects in Nicaragua.”

Yota is a Russia-based developer and provider of up and coming mobile services. The first Russian high-speed wireless network was established by Yota and was based on Mobile Wimax. Yota is a member of the international WiMax Forum association comprised of world-leading 4G technology vendors and service providers.

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd is a … Read the rest

P1 Targets to Launch WiMax in East Malaysia by July 2010

Elizabeth Dickey on December 15, 2009 | 2 comments

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Malaysian WiMax operator Packet One Networks (P1) revealed that it expects to launch commercial services in East Malaysia by July of 2010. P1 is a Malaysian converged telecommunications, broadband, and WiMax service provider. Founded in 2002, it is a subsidiary of Green Packet Berhad, and in August 2008 it became the first company to launch commercial WiMaxservices in Malaysia. P1 has already identified 48 sites in Sabah for network deployment in 2010, with an additional 58 sites planned for 2011. These areas include the Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Tawau districts. P1 has also indicated that it will consider expanding the service to other rural districts if the demand arises.

In November 2009, P1 Chief Executive Michael Lai said that the operator was planning to spend between MYR200 million and MYR300 million (USD58.5 million and USD87.8 million) on its rollout in Sabah and Sarawak. Corporate office Vice President Ismail Haron also said that since its launch in August 2008, the wireless broadband provider has signed up roughly 120,000 customers, with 41% of those in Selangor. Of the total, the company claims that 33.15% were new broadband users who had never subscribed to a high speed internet service in the past.… Read the rest

Invicta to Develop Sales Group to Launch 4G WiMax in Chicago

Elizabeth Dickey on December 14, 2009 | 3 comments

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Invicta Group, Inc just signed an independent sales organization agreement to develop a unique sales group to help launch the new 4G WiMax product into the Chicago marketplace. Invicta is a conglomerate with an aggressive sales and marketing team that utilizes shared overhead and resources such as office space, technology, administrative employees, legal and accounting services, creative and design tools, and IT solutions. The synergies allow a lower cost of entry into the marketplace and almost instant startup capabilities for new products, services, and clients.

The company hopes to build and expand their enterprise with this cutting-edge technology. It appears that Invicta was selected to build the sales group because of the company’s objectives in the marketplace at large. Just last month, Invicta acquired specific assets related to the Target Marketing company with aims of expanding the marketing products and services offered to their clients.

In reference to this acquisition, CEO Paul Sorkin said, “We have been looking for ways to expand our strategic marketing products and services and feel this acquisition will help all of our current and future clients while allowing us to offer more effective and cost efficient package deals.”

Invicta’s most recent development with WiMax appears to be another way in which the company will expand their strategic marketing products and services through means of the rapidly expanding technology market. WiMax defines a packet-based wireless technology that provides high-throughput broadband connections over long distances. It is similar to Wi-Fi in concept, but has certain features aimed at improving performance that should permit usage over much greater distances.… Read the rest

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Elizabeth Dickey

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