Spectators and visitors to Vancouver during the 2010 Winter Olympics will have the opportunity to experience WiMax technology. Guests will be able to receive live scores, updates and real-time stats using their computers and other mobile devices. Craig Wireless Systems Ltd. is launching WiMax service throughout Vancouver in January.

Vancouver-area mobile users can use the WiMax link to watch the events anywhere. NBC will stream live coverage using Microsoft Silverlight. Using technology from Akamai and IStreamPlanet, NBC will be able to broadcast HD video online. There will be 23 video feeds, nine feeds set up from the venues, four broadcast feeds, six “Beauty Cams”, two victory ceremony feeds, one  feed of Olympic News Channel and one feed from the press conferences. The video will both be live and on-demand.

Motorola is supplying the 801.16e infrastructure for Vancouver. Around the venues and in downtown Vancouver, the company is launching mobile WiMax service. The other areas of Vancouver will be serviced with fixed WiMax.

Craig is launching WiMax is Palm Springs, CA and the Coachella Valley before launching Vancouver. The company is also launching service in 2010 to Manitoba, Canada, New Zealand and Athens, Greece. In all the other markets, the WiMax coverage will be fixed/nomadic service and is working towards the density needed for mobile WiMax. Craig is looking to expand, eventually covering all of British Columbia and expanding into other North American markets.

The company looked into technology 15 years ago by purchasing the broadcast spectrum and waiting for the technology to catch up. WiMax testing technology was first launched by the company in Palm Springs in January 2009. The company is also working with other WiMax providers like Clearwire to create roaming agreements. It will initially not sell network adapters or other compatibility devices.