Houston, TX, the nation’s fourth-largest city, has decided to build a city-wide WiMAX network which will span 640 square miles at a cost of $6.4 million.
Houston
It’s a slower week in WiMAX after a slew of announcements at the beginning of April. A lot of companies are preparing for another slew of conferences and expos. WiMAX Forum Asia is scheduled to take place from April 12-14 in Taipei, Taiwan. Most of the major players, including Packet One, Samsung and Greenpacket will be there.
There have been many reactions as WiMAX build out continues in the U.S. Clearwire launched in Houston towards the end of March. Many metro dwellers wonder when they’ll be getting the 4G experience. Clearwire outlined that New York, San Francisco, Miami, Washington D.C. and Boston will all get Clear by the end of 2010. They also stated that they’re looking to cover 120 million people by the end of this year.
That’s a lofty goal but it should be attained. WiMAX roll out continues to be strong in other countries too. Betelecom started WiMAX services in Minsk. BSNL continues rolling out its WiMAX services, now offering services in the Punjab region of India. YTL enlisted Connectiva for software in their WiMAX roll out in Malaysia. Roll outs continue internationally, but they’ve slowed a bit in 2010. There just isn’t that much space to cover in other countries. Most operators are looking towards WiMAX and other 4G technologies as ways to provide extra space for data and voice on the spectrum.
BangaLion outlined their plans for users and expectations for the rest of 2010. The MIC is looking to contract a 4G network in Vietnam. It’s interesting expansion internationally to see how governments and operators manage the WiMAX expansion along with deploying next generation mobile broadband.
Many mobile users in the U.S. and other markets need more space for data because of the emergence of data consuming devices like the Amazon Kindle and the iPhone. Apple launched the iPad last week and sold 300,000 in the first three days of release. It comes with a data connection plan that puts an even tighter crunch on AT&T’s data network. In an effort to combat naysayers, AT&T also announced a plan to upgrade its current 3G networks by spending $1 billion on expanding and updating its current network.
Many people looking for a faster internet connection with their iPad will look to connect to a WiMAX network using one of the mobile hot spots from Sprint or Clear. Both offer a solid option for a … Read the rest
Many analysts and insiders are saying that with Sprint and Clearwire touting it as the future internet connection, WiMAX made great strides at CTIA Wireless in Las Vegas earlier this month. I do think that with the device market driving users to sign up for the 4G technology, WiMAX penetration will continue to grow.
Clear launched services in Houston on March 29. It’s a great market that means Texas becomes one of the most WiMAX-heavy states in the U.S. It’s the first launch of 2010 as well. Clear plans to cover 120 million people by the end of this year and Houston is a great start. Operator and commercial aren’t the only applications that use WiMAX in the U.S. – General Electric teamed with a Michigan utilities company to install smart meters in some homes as a pilot program to measure how accurate the readings are and to see how cost effective a system using WiMAX can be. Alvarion was given the Security Industry Association’s Best in Public Safety Solutions Award for its BreezeMAX product.
For WiMAX to succeed, the devices must match the speed of WiMAX deployment. Dell released the Inspiron Mini 10 netbook with a special offering from Clear. Franklin Wireless released its latest USB modem for Sprint. It’s a strong release deal to include the laptop along with the service and helps penetrate new laptop purchasers and first time computer buyers by offering Internet with their latest computing power. Expert panelist Cecil Taylor recently highlighted how WiMAX will influence the video realm.
International deployment continues to grow, as Zimbabwe is getting WiMAX next month. European telecom visionaries are meeting in the U.K. to discuss the future of technology, and in a marketing tactic, BSNL will offer a free trial service for WiMAX in India. It’s a smart move to showcase the technology for skeptical or reluctant users. Redline installed WiMAX solutions in Romania to start deployment in the eastern European country as well.
WiMAX deployment will be led by the U.S. this year. Taiwan and India will continue to grow as potential markets for WiMAX. Clearwire owns a lot of spectrum space and the F.C.C. doesn’t look like its going to auction spectrum space any time soon. Clearwire has also stated it could change over to LTE in a few years. Right now, the device market looks promising with the HTC EVO 4G and the mobile hot … Read the rest
Clearwire has released its full plans for installing WiMAX in America for 2010. They’ve named additional markets including Miami, Cincinnati and Cleveland. They’re also showcasing the latest WiMAX-embedded computer and 4G connection for the Apple iPad.
“Across our 4G markets today, we’re experiencing data usage levels that could shake the rest of the wireless industry to its core,” said Bill Morrow, CEO of Clearwire. “On average, our mobile 4G customers are using more than 7 GB of data per month, and we’re very pleased about the implications. Those who want to have a misguided debate about competing 4G radio technologies are missing the bigger picture. To deliver true mobile broadband requires deep spectrum resources and an all-IP network, and Clearwire remains unrivaled on both fronts.”
Clear plans on covering 120 million Americans by the end of 2010. It will launch in Los Angeles, Miami, St. Louis, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Salt Lake City. More cities will be released later this year. Clearwire will launch WiMAX in Houston at the end of this month, with the majority of the new markets being started in the last half of this year.
Clearwire already offers many different devices under the Clear brand. In 2010, they’ll add even more, including the Dell Inspiron Mini 10 netbook. The embedded version will be available through Clear retail locations and www.clear.com. It will will also unveil the latest in home modems and USB dongles.
The Clear Spot mobile hotspot could enable iPad users to connect to the 4G network through the Wi-Fi capabilities of the Clear Spot. It provides 4G speeds to the iPad and other Wi-Fi enabled devices.
Clearwire will also make advancements that will provide faster service to customers. It will increase its microwave backhaul capacity and improve its base stations. Through advanced antenna signal processing technology, the company will expand cell site capacities by doubling the number of transmitters and receivers per site. The upgrades will be made to all of Clearwire’s 4G network.
The upgrades to microwave backhaul will increase capacity by 250 percent or more, with capability to support gigabit per second speeds in high traffic areas. The capacity will provide more room for data across Clearwire’s network.
Clear service is currently available in 27 U.S. markets, including Philadelphia, Maui, Chicago, Seattle and Las Vegas.
Photo Courtesy of Storm Crypt via Flickr… Read the rest
Sprints latest marketing campaign for its 4G service asks people to consider the possibility of Internet that is 10 times faster than their 3G network. The newest advertisement asks, “What can you do with 4G?”
The answers are astonishing. Users can quickly download music or stream videos at speeds per second on your mobile device. Gamers can also play online at the same speed as basic cable or DSL wired connection.
Sprint’s flagship product, the Overdrive 3G/4G Mobile hotspot, connects up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices at once. Sprint recently began running Overdrive commercials on national TV, print and online banner advertisements. The Overdrive can stream HD movies straight to a TV from providers and you can stream TV from Hulu right to your laptop.
“To really understand the Sprint 4G difference, you have to see for yourself what it can do,” said Mike Goff, Vice President of Corporate Marketing, Sprint. “Our new marketing campaign is designed to give customers vivid insight into the dramatically new and improved connected lifestyle offered by Sprint 4G. And Sprint is the only national wireless carrier providing the 4G experience today.”
Sprint uses WiMax technology from Clearwire to launch 4G technology. It’s the first national carrier to test and launch 4G services, covering 27 markets in the U.S., including Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Seattle and Chicago. There are plans to expand into Boston, Houston, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. by the end of 2010, covering over 120 million people.
Sprint is the majority shareholder in Clearwire, the owners of the spectrum space and equipment necessary to launch WiMax technology which is the driving force behind 4G. Clearwire also offers service through its brand, Clear.… Read the rest
City officials face obstacles while trying to provide municipal internet and are looking to WiMAX as the solution. In order to serve poor neighborhoods and the community at large, hundreds of cities including Hartford, Philadelphia, Houston, and San Francisco have attempted to build a free or inexpensive Wi-Fi system.
The motivation to provide universal Internet access lies in a simple fact — poorer urban residents often cannot afford the average $50 a month fee charged by cable companies and other providers. In Hartford, only 25 percent of the city’s households have an Internet connection, compared to 75 percent in surrounding suburbs. Connecticut Post
While Wi-Fi has been working great in most downtown areas where antennas and computers are in close proximity but the Wi-Fi signal is not strong enough to cover a wide area or penetrate through brick apartment buildings. Wi-Fi systems have not been delivering on its promised performance. Hartford officials have been forced to put its municipal internet project on hold and hope WiMAX will serve as an alternative.
According to Jack McCoy, chief information officer for Manchester and a member of the newly created Connecticut Broadband Coordinating Council, “WiMAX could run a citywide network. The concern is it could run into opposition from cable companies and other providers.”
Some businesses in Texas will have more opportunities to sign up with WiMAX services as Airband Communications, Inc. announced that it will be expanding its reach and service by 50 percent in the Houston area. This expansion includes upgrading existing infrastructure and positioning new base stations around Northwest Freeway, Arena Towers, West Chase and Sugarland. Each base station covers a radius of three to five miles, thus allowing Airband to service more businesses in those areas. The company has been providing WiMAX services for Houston since 2001.
But this may very well not be the last time Airband comes up in WiMAX news. According to an article posted in Centre Daily, Airband is upgrading its Houston market as part of a larger project. With clients already located in Austin, Charlotte, Dallas, LA, Philadelphia,Phoneix and elsewhere, Airband is developing a strategy to provide services nationwide. As Airband expands its footprint, we may soon hear of businesses in other major cities gaining WiMAX as an option for their data and VoIP services.
