Sprint is always looking to be creative and innovative in order to keep up with the “big players.” That is why they are always trying to be bold.
wireless
Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint are the companies leading the way for this new product. They exude confidence during technology fairs concluding that the 4G revolution is upon us. They’ve developed products to help connect to the network such as portable modems, usb drives, and sim cards. They’ve even entitled their networks; Sprint’s being WIMAX (World-wide Interoperability for Microwave Access) while Verizon and AT&T’s shall be called LTE (Long Term Evolution). However, perhaps their confidence is missed guided and their promise of debuting in 2013 is unrealistic.
WIMAX developed by the Sprint and Clear companies respectively, seems to be losing ground in the United States amidst their attempt to bring WIMAX success domestically. Though they’ve raised 3.2 billion dollars in investments to produce the network, Sprint and Clear may have underestimated how expensive it is to blanket the country in connectivity. Sprint, the lesser of the three major telecommunications distributors in the country, may not have enough currency to continue production if the 3.2 billion isn’t enough, and investors Google, Time Warner, and Intel may grow weary of waiting and pull their investments early. Also those dependent on their WIMAX’s success is far less than those who are dependent on LTE”s success due to the fact that Verizon and AT&T are far larger companies. … Read the rest
Telecom Providers Announce LTE Standard – Nov 5, 2009 (CNET)
In the battle between LTE and WiMax for wireless broadband, LTE may have just gotten another boost. A group of leading telecom service and equipment providers, including AT&T, Verizon, Nokia, and Samsung, announced a new standard Thursday for delivering compatible voice and messaging services using Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks.
Anritsu Joins `4G and Fat Pipes` Panel Discussion Tour – Nov 5, 2009 (Reuters)
Anritsu Company, in conjunction with RCR Wireless News, is happy to announce RCR Local, a series of networking events held around the country to gather large groups of telecom and technology professionals. The first event will focus on the impact 4G services have on the wireless industry and, ultimately, our society as whole, both from an economic and cultural standpoint.
CLEAR WiMax on Sale Today in the Philadelphia Region – Nov 5, 2009 (Wimax News)
Clearwire Communications, LLC, announced today the expansion of its sales operations for CLEAR`s internet service throughout the Philadelphia region. The company will be showcasing mobile WiMax capabilities in Philadelphia’s Love Park at their consumer launch event.
Intel in Talks with ITI for WiMAX Joint Venture – Nov 5, 2009 (Business Standard)
The world’s largest chip maker Intel is preparing to participate in bids recently invited by ailing state-run telecom equipment manufacturer Indian Telecom Industries (ITI) to set up joint ventures based on various technologies including Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), according to sources close to this development.
Taiwan and China WiMax Partners Instead of Competitors – Nov 4, 2009 (Wimax News)
Acer chairman JT Wang, who also serves as chairman of the Taipei Computer Association (TCA), wants Taiwan and China based players to see each other more as partners than competitors.
Alvarion Beats Analyst Expectations – Nov 4, 2009 (Wimax News)
Alvarion reported lower quarterly earnings and revenue on Wednesday, although the results beat expectations and sent its shares higher.
Tata Teleservices Maharashtra to Spend $266m on 3G, WiMAX – Nov 4, 2009 (Total Telecom)
Indian operator says money will be spent at spectrum auctions and on capacity expansion.
Sprint’s Good News: 10 More Cities with WiMax and a New Netbook – Nov 4, 2009 (Wimax News)
Sprint-Nextel Corp., has confirmed that it is launching its first ever netbook as well as expanding the coverage of its WiMax network.
Obama Earmarks $7 Billion to Expand High-speed Internet … Read the rest
Muniwireless.com, a WiMAX news website, recently published a handbook for telecom companies that are shuddering at the thought of tackling the new guidelines for government broadband money alone. Titled How to Get a Grant: Part 1, the comprehensive paper outlines all of the details for potential applicants in a step-by-step, user-friendly fashion. Muniwireless even takes the liberty of giving its opinion of where the broadband plan falls short of economic and regional needs.
The handbook, which was authored by Muniwireless Founder Esmeralda Vos Yu, starts with a general summary of the broadband stimulus criteria that was published by the RUS and NTIA in early July. It gives an official definition of and “unserved area” and an “underserved area” and defines the separate roles of the RUS and NTIA.
Before it gets into the nitty-gritty, the paper notes several issues it has with the broadband stimulus. Their issues are: the difficulty the stimulus requirements pose on small rural communities, the guidelines favor regional and national telecommunications carriers, areas with few wealthy vacation-homes and a many poor year-round homes will be excluded from the category of “underserved”, urban areas need to fall under the Public Computer Center or the Sustainable Broadband Adoption categories to get funding, BTOP applicants with matching funds greater than 20 percent of their project costs get favorable treatment, and the NTIA will not pay people to review grant applications.
The paper then continues on to divulge exactly how much money–and from whom–is available, the numerous application deadlines, eight key definitions, and finally an explanation of the requirements for each grant/loan program. The 19-page paper ends off with links to sites for more information and short biographies of major telecom vendors and partners that are hoping to provide equipment and services to companies that will participate in BIP and BTOP projects.… Read the rest
Packet One Networks has introduced the WIGGY 69, an affordable Mobile broadband plan that features Malaysia’s fastest wireless broadband network–WiMAX. The small, compact USB modem is second in line of the WIGGY products, a Packet One brand for mobile broadband consumer devices.
The WIGGY 69 is named so to emphasize its lower price–RM69 as a monthly subscription fee, less than half of the amount for WIGGY, which is RM149 a month. Both of these prices are susceptible to additional fees, such as the RM100 registration fee and the RM60 activation fee for the first bill.
However, the WIGGY 69 offers less speed than the WIGGY. The WIGGY offers up to ten Mbps download speeds, with the company’s website noting that the device really offers one to three Mbps on average usage. The WIGGY 69 offers up to 800 Kbps download speeds, with average download speeds between 600 and 700 kbps.
Packet One says the new WIGGY 69 is based on customer feedback and preferences. The device could be an answer to the numerous Malaysians living in rural regions who are not able to afford high-priced wireless products but who really need the Internet connection. Packet One’s goal as Malaysia’s foremost WiMAX provider is to make broadband Internet available and affordable to every Malaysian.
“The WIGGY 69 plan is a product driven by consumers. A major segment of the portable broadband market is looking for a simple, affordable plan that works for sending out emails, surfing the web and generally enjoying the world of broadband,” said Michael Lai, CEO of Packet One.
In April 2009, when the first WIGGY was introduced, Packet One expressed its hope to play a major role in helping Malaysia’s broadband penetration reach 50 percent by 2010.… Read the rest
On Monday, July 13, Alvarion announced plans for a WiMAX pilot in Marina Port Vauban, Southern France, with French operator Bolloré telecom.
The pilot, conducted in cooperation with the Antibes municipalities, will showcase Alvarion’s end-to-end mobile WiMAX 4Motion® solution operating at the 3.5 GHz frequency band. Bolloré telecom will pilot a variety of applications, including Internet access, video streaming and VoIP services to docked boats located in the marina, as well as the surrounding beach, school and municipal buildings.
“This test network will allow people to experience a variety of wireless broadband services in real time,” said Tzvika Friedman, CEO of Alvarion.
The Alvarion 4Motion® solution will be integrated with the Bridgewater Service Controller which allows providers to offer and control access to advanced and differentiated services across many network access technologies. The device provides AAA services in 2G, 3G, 4G and wireline networks. Video surveillance applications will be tested using cameras from Axis Communications, a network video provider. Axis’ equipment has had previous interaction with WiMAX, such as its successful deployment of video surveillance devices in Doñana Biological Station’s WiMAX network.
Tourists, visitors and local businesses in the area are the target of this WiMAX demonstration. The live pilot will connect many USB devices and PC cards given to owners of docked boats in the marina to test the service. If successful, the project could extend to an additional 350 marinas in France.
“This collaboration highlights our interest in the various broadband applications and rich user experience enabled by 4G”, said Dominique Roux, Chairman of Bolloré telecom. “This pilot is commissioned as part of Bolloré telecom’s forward planning to spread wireless broadband to a large part of the country.”
Netlogix, a global provider of wireless telecommunications professional and manages services, today announced the launch of a recently completed WiMAX municipal network for the City of Corona, CA. The network, which is now in its initial stage, uses point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, and wireless mesh technologies.
Netlogix deployed the WiMAX network as a solution to the miscommunication issues between Corona’s City Hall and Public Safety, among other municipal divisions. With the new WiMAX network, data can be transmitted from each location in real-time and from muiliple backbone sites. The network also delivers high-speed, IP-based data communications betweent City facilities and provides mobile and portable vehicular data communications.
“We’ve been evaluating a wireless solution for a variety of purposes for several years. After speaking with numerous vendors and learning about the various technologies, we decided that it was time to move forward with the implementation of a solution that could assist a variety of our needs across various departments,” said Steve Larson, IT Director for the City of Corona.
The equipment for the network was installed at key City-owned facilities, along with vehicular-installed and portable tripod units for wireless data transmission during various field operations within the City. The WiMAX network will serve as a full time back-up between key facilities, and provides redundancy for natural disaster situations.
Corona’s information technology department is presntly evaluating network usage and peformance to improve emergency planning and city communications. Netlogix has a flexible network design that will allow for potential expansion of the system and the services it offered to the City.… Read the rest
The Obama administration published the criteria for its technology initiative funds yesterday, a Wall Street Journal article reports. The published document deals with the method of distributing billions of dollars toward the development of broadband in the US.
The funds will go primarily to unserved and underserved areas across the country–namely, the rural patch of America. Regions where half or fewer of the households can access broadband today will fit this category.
So far, none of the major broadband networks providers–such as AT&T, Comcast, or Verizon–have indicated that they would like to apply for government funding. They could be deterred by the likelihood of the government regulations that will come with the money. However, the stimulus could be beneficial to network equipment companies, such as Altactel-Lucent and Cisco Systems, which are sponsoring grant-writing programs for their customers.
On Wednesday, Vice President Joe Biden spoke at Seneca High School about the need for advanced broadband everywhere in America.
“The bottom line it, you can’t function–a nation can’t compete in the 21st century–without an immediate, high-quality access for everything from streaming video to information overline,” he said. “Getting broadband to every American is a priority for this administration.”
Regions can apply for government grants starting on July 14, and the first round of funding will be awarded in September; all of the money must be awarded by September 2010. The departments of Commerce and Agriculture will consider funding projects that provide wired or wireless access starting at low-end DSL speeds, but will give priority to projects that promise higher speeds. Administration officials say they plan to change the rules around after they see how the first round of funding goes.… Read the rest
