WiMAX technology is continuing to attract operators interested in bringing broadband internet to customers who recognize the value of 4G services
Deployment
Let us do a quick review of a typical WiMAX network architecture: Essentially, the MS (member station)/SS (subscriber station) is on one side, and the BS (base station), ASN (Access Service Network) Gateway, CSN (Connectivity Service Network: HA(home agent), AAA, etc.) is on the other side. Please remember the following common interface terminologies: the air-interface between the MS to BS is termed R1, the interface between MS to CSN is R2, BS to ASN is R6, ASN to CSN is R3, ASN to another ASN is R4 and CSN to another operator’s CSN is R5. Next, we provide a simplistic summary of the network entry and initialization process: Phase a) the MS scans the DL channel and synchronizes with the BS, Phase b) transmit parameters are obtained, Phase c)
The FCC recently concluded in its Sixth Broadband Deployment Report that between 14 and 24 million Americans still lack access to broadband or “advanced telecommunications capability” that enables users to originate and receive high-quality voice, data, graphics, and video telecommunications using any technology. The FCC, in its July 20th Report, estimates that 1,024 out of 3,230 counties in the United States and its territories are unserved by broadband and, on average, these unserved areas are home to 24 million Americans living in 8.9 million households with a population density of 138.3 people per square mile and a per capita income of $14,565 measured in 1999 dollars. The FCC’s estimates of broadband availability are based primarily on the Model that FCC staff created in conjunction with the development of the National Broadband Plan, and the broadband subscribership data the FCC collects on FCC Form 477.
The FCC applied a “de minimis threshold,” under which it found broadband to be available in a county only if at least 1 percent of the households in that county subscribe to broadband. Stated differently, broadband is deemed available in a county if it is unavailable to up to 99% of the households in that county! Given this relatively low threshold, the FCC data may tend to actually overstate broadband availability in the United States. These and other details are critical to understanding the full impact of the FCC’s data.
So how and when will broadband deployment improve in the United States? The Report proposes to meet the FCC’s goal of deployment to all Americans by implementing key recommendations from the FCC’s National Broadband Plan, including reforming the FCC’s universal service programs, unleashing spectrum for mobile broadband, reducing barriers to investment, collecting better broadband data, and upgrading the standard from 200 kilobits per second downstream, to 4 megabits per second (Mbps) downstream and 1 Mbps upstream.
As we noted last week in our Back to the Future article, other possible solutions involve changing the regulatory classification of broadband, and moving it from an information service to a more heavily regulated telecommunications service. Critics of this approach typically raise concerns of increased costs and regulatory delays, ultimately leading to reduced or stifled broadband availability. This debate is currently playing out in comments and reply comments filed with the FCC in response to the National Broadband Plan. Given enough spectrum, engineering solutions such as higher transmitter … Read the rest
In the Telecommunications Act of 1996, Congress codified the FCC’s distinction between “telecommunications services” used to transmit information and “information services” that run over the network. The FCC later eliminated the regulatory asymmetry between cable companies and other broadband Internet service providers by extending the information service classification to broadband Internet services offered over DSL and other wireline facilities, power lines, and wireless. Today broadband Internet service may be offered as an information service subject to consumer protection, network reliability, and national security laws, rules and regulations, but largely exempt from Title II telecommunications service regulation.
Expressing its resolve to further broadband deployment, Congress recently passed
1) the 2008 Farm Bill directing the FCC to submit to Congress “a comprehensive rural broadband strategy,
2) the Broadband Data Improvement Act to improve data collection and “promote the deployment of affordable broadband services to all parts of the Nation”, and
3) the Recovery Act, which appropriated up to $7.2 billion for broadband services deployment, and required the FCC to develop the National Broadband Plan.
GoingWiMAX.com recently interviewed Robb Henshaw, GoingWiMAX.com expert and Senior Director for Global Marketing and Communications for Proxim Wireless. He highlighted Sunrise Wireless deployment of Proxim equipment in San Francisco Bay. He also hinted about the future of the technology along with the current WiMAX developments.
Sunrise deployed two types of networks in the Bay. One networks is for commercial vessels in the Bay, used for live video, emergency services using unlicensed WiMAX equipment. The other network provides Wi-Fi access to recreational boaters in areas of the Bay.
1. How does the install in the San Francisco Bay showcase the versatility of Proxim’s solutions?
The San Francisco Bay installation showcases the versatility of the Proxim solutions because it utilizes multiple wireless broadband technologies from across our end-to-end wireless portfolio. In this case, they utilize a combination of our high-performance outdoor Wi-Fi solutions, our point-to-multipoint products, as well as our
point-to-point wireless backhaul products. The outdoor Wi-Fi products are used to provide the publically-accessible Wi-Fi network for recreational boaters. The point-to-multipoint products are positioned along the shore to provide long-distance, high-performance wireless connectivity from commercial ships (ferries, cruise ships, cargo ships, etc.) back to the shore. And the point-to-point wireless backhaul aggregates and backhauls all of the Wi-Fi and point-to-multipoint traffic back to the network operations center across the city.
Proxim is the only company that provides the ability to deploy this kind of integrated, end-to-end broadband wireless ecosystem. Other companies provide one or two pieces of the puzzle (Wi-Fi, WiMAX, or wireless backhaul), but then you have to find another vendor for the other pieces. Or worse, a vendor without all the pieces will convince you that you can use one technology for the entire deployment. Like the saying goes — if all you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail.
At Proxim, our complete wireless broadband portfolio gives our customers the freedom to pick and choose the right technologies (or mix of technologies) for any given application, rather than forcing them to compromise. And because all of our products — across the entire portfolio — were designed from the ground up to work together, they can rest assured that the system will integrate and work together seamlessly with one single management console.
2. How can operators learn and expand on the deployment?
Because of the interoperability and scalability of Proxim’s solutions, at any time the network … Read the rest
Kansas Broadband Internet has selected PureWave’s Quantum mobile WiMAX solution. KBI will only use PureWave’s technology in unrolling a WiMAX network. The network will cover areas of Kansas that can’t get fixed line broadband internet.
“As we migrate our wireless network from proprietary equipment to more advanced and capable mobile WiMAX technology, we need a solution that is powerful, simple to deploy, easy to maintain and cost effective, all at the same time,” said Lee Miller, President and CEO of KBI. “We field tested the PureWave Quantum against a number of other solutions, and PureWave came out the clear winner in terms of range, capacity and over-all link budget. The end result is that we are now able to deliver such advanced services as streaming video to customers located 7.5 miles away from the base station in a non-line of site environment. We are reaching customers we were never able to serve before.”
The PureWave Quantum base stations fit the needs of rural operators. It will allow KBI to deliver voice and data services to rural areas. The solution uses six antennas to deliver a range up to 15 miles. The solution is completely deployed outdoors, meaning there’s no need for a shelter or air-conditioner. This feature reduces deployment and maintenance costs.
“We are proud to be KBI’s vendor of choice for their advanced WiMAX network” said Gideon Ben-Efraim, PureWave’s Chairman and CEO. “As they expand their service into new communities and offer their customers advanced services, we are pleased to have been selected as KBI’s technology partner.”
The PureWave Quantum base station reduces capital spending by operators because it’s able to work with or without a ASN gateway. The base stations work with standard WiMAX CPEs. KBI contracting out base station installs means that WiMAX continues to grow among regional Internet service providers. It’s a unique opportunity to see how well high speed internet penetrates into Kansas. It’s also interesting to see… Read the rest
Motorola will provide St. Andrew’s Healthcare with an indoor and outdoor wireless solution. It will provide doctors and staff with St. Andrew’s Healthcare with voice, data and RTLS tracking of staff protection devices. The solutions will be deployed across sites in the United Kingdom. The main campus is in Northampton, covering 110 acres. It will only track and monitor staff members, not the patients.
“The safety of our staff and our patients is paramount to us and we are happy to be able to invest in cutting-edge, world-class technology to ensure this,” Paul Kirkpatrick, IT Director at St Andrew’s Healthcare said, “Motorola was able to provide a secure wireless infrastructure that covers our extensive outdoor facilities with Mesh technology. Motorola’s AirDefense system ensures that our data is secure and easy to manage and available to our staff where needed most at the point of care.”
Motorola delivered LAN software, AirDefense Wireless Instrustion Protection, RF Management software and Advanced Services, along with infrastructure hardware in the field. St. Andrews is staffed by 3,500, spread between four campuses, including Essex, Birmingham and Nottinghamshire provide mental health care.
The main campus at Northampton includes a golf course, playing fields, croquet lawns and chapel. Connecting all those acres require linking to four access points at any one time to figure out where a staff member is located. The infrastructure has to be secure and functional for voice, data and location based services to track staff and protect from outside hackers.
“We are delighted to supply St Andrew’s with our technology and are committed to providing healthcare sites such as this with our expertise to let employees get on with their jobs,” Manuel Torres, corporate vice president and general manager, Enterprise Mobility Solutions, Motorola, EMEA says, “We are able to provide staff with remote 24/7 security and patient monitoring as well as drug management that provides nurses with accurate data capture at the point of care via a handheld device.”
It showcases how the health care industry can embrace wireless technology as the way towards using wireless solution without having security concerns. St. Andrew’s deploying Motorola technology to locate staff members when they’re on campus helps with safety, security and alerting staff members in case of an emergency. It’s another adoption of how wireless technology like WiMAX and LTE can be used in the future for emergency services, smart grids and other municipalities.… Read the rest
Tranzeo Wireless and Aperto Networks will merge with Tranzeo, taking over all of Aperto’s assets. Aperto will be a newly incorporated subsidiary of Tranzeo, who now assumes Aperto’s purchase orders worth $8.3 million, added to Tranzeo’s $32.7 million.
“Acquiring Aperto immediately transforms Tranzeo into a market leading complete solutions provider for major telecommunications operators while still supplying product to Tranzeo’s existing wireless Internet service providers,” said Jim Tocher, President and CEO of Tranzeo. “With an established world-wide customer base and a pipeline of new customers now in trials, the benefits of today’s announcement will start to bear fruit within a year. The future for Tranzeo has never looked better.”
Tranzeo will complete the transaction by issuing common stock shares to Aperto stockholders. It will be based on $5 million and is expected to be complete by mid-April 2010. The merger means that Tranzeo can now produce end-to-end solution for both WiMAX and LTE deployments, including WiMAX radios and base stations.
This really doesn’t have the greatest effect on Wall Street because it will take place on the Toronto Stock Exchange. It’s an important move for a vendor to improve his market share though by buying another smaller vendor. Tranzeo can now offer more services through Aperto’s assets.… Read the rest
