Posted by Avi Telyas on Aug 11, 2009 in
WiMAX Korean ETNews reports Korean Government discontent with WiBro operators investments.
A senior official of the Presidential Office said, “The WiBRO business is a new business where the license holders make investment with the frequencies, asset belonging to the public. But, the failure of the investment is a big trouble. The President believes that this issue should not be disregarded any longer.”
The report goes on exploring different punishment schemes, Revoking Licenses, Fines and more.
To summarize it shortly (and bluntly): Wibro has Failed!
(Via LightReading)
Tags: WiBro
Posted by Avi Telyas on Aug 9, 2009 in
WiMAX Bizportal , a Israeli financial portal published that Axxcelera is also bidding for Airspan.
Axxcelera, a private company is operating in the same field as Airspan in both Licensed and Unlicensed bands.
According the Bizportal report:
- Current bid is for less than $10 Millions
- If Axxcelera wins the bid, the Israeli R&D site will be shut down, while the London R&D office will be integrated into Axxcelera.
- Around 80 employees are currently working at Airspan’s Israeli branch.
Who Will it Be? Gilat or Axxcelera?
Tags: Airspan, Axxcelera, Gilat
Posted by Avi Telyas on Aug 2, 2009 in
WiMAX One Month after the launch of UQ WiMAX network, I decided to check if I can get WiMAX at Home.
Result: NO
Below you can see UQ’s report on my area, which basically says that I will have hard time getting a WiMAX service even OUTSIDE my Home, not to mention indoor.
Nakahara station is about 4KM from my house and adjacent to Fuijtsu R&D facilities. Many people that UQ may target, and indeed UQ’s service is available there:
Please note the marked part stating that indoor service is not guaranteed. Exact translation is that service “may be available”, but sensitive to terrain, buildings, windows distance.
Sorry UQ WiMAX, still not convinced, still not signing for your service.
Tags: Service Area, UQ WiMAX
Posted by Avi Telyas on Jul 30, 2009 in
Alvarion,
WiMAX Trying to collect a list of all companies and Start-Ups in Israel developing WiMAX Silicon/Systems as well as in the WiMAX Eco-System.
- Intel - WiMAX R&D center is in Israel (result of Envara acquisition).
- Runcom – Develops MS and BS Silicon as well as Systems.
- Altair Semiconductor – 4G silicon for LTE, WiMAX and XGP.
- DesignArt Networks – WiMAX BS Silicon as well as backhaul solution.
- Alvarion – WiMAX Systems.
- Airspan - WiMAX Systems – Biggest R&D center is located in Israel.
- Comsys Mobile – WiMAX, LTE MS Silicon.
- WiNetworks – WiMAX Systems.
- Gilat - Resell WiMAX Systems (By Airspan).
- Ceragon – Mobile backhaul.
- Redbend – WiMAX device Management.
Tags: Airspan, Altair Semi, Ceragon, DesignArt Networks, Gilat, Intel, Redbend, Runcom, WiNetworks
Posted by Avi Telyas on Jul 26, 2009 in
WiMAX WiMAX Forum’s certification showcase features a Cisco WiMAX USB device, which made me think that Cisco is still investing into their WiMAX business unit.
However, browsing further reveals that the device looks the same as Seowon Intech’s device and GCT device. All devices were certified in Korea by TTA.
I think Cisco could at least invest some time and money in re-designing the entire look and feel of the device with Cisco colors.
Tags: Cisco, GCT
Posted by Avi Telyas on Jul 19, 2009 in
WiMAX Bic Camera has recently announced participation in UQ WiMAX MVNO program. However, in a recent visit to Bic Camaera in Shin-Yokohama, I couldn’t find any reference to WiMAX, which made me investigate more into Bic Camer’a WiMAX offering on their website:
Bic Camera WiMAX Banner is at the bottom of the page, under Emobile, OCN and other promotions.
The plan details are fairly simple as they follow UQ WiMAX price plan, the UQ Flat at 4480 Yen per month. Additional 2835 Yen are required for registration (it still kills me to pay registration fees everywhere I go in Japan):
Now, this part is getting annoying. Bic Camera offer only one device (?!), the BDSS01, by Shinsei Corp, which I can just guess it is the same device used by UQ (UD01SS) with a different name and package. Device price is 12,800 Yen (!!!).
It doesn’t really feel like Bic Camera are pushing this device, no promotion, no benefits. I don’t see anyone interested in WiMAX getting it from Bic Camera, so why bother with the MVNO program?
Tags: Bic Camera, MVNO, Shinsei Corp, UQ WiMAX
Posted by Avi Telyas on Jul 19, 2009 in
WiMAX 
Previously reported Shinsei Corp devices already support Mac OS; but finally, UQ WiMax devices made by NEC access technica will add Mac OS support during August.
The devices mentioned are UD01NA and UD03NA.
[via itmedia - jp]
Tags: MAC OS, NEC Access Technica, UD01NA, UD03NA, UQ communications
Posted by Avi Telyas on Jul 13, 2009 in
LTE,
WiMAX Following the recent LTE press releases, I decided to revisit Google Trends and see how WiMAX is doing.
WiMAX search term is still leading over LTE. I don’t find it surprising that Pakistan and Malaysia are the leading regions for WiMAX searches as there are real deployments there, while in South Korea LTE is gaining some ground (but still only about half of “WiMAX”).
Tags: Trends
Posted by Avi Telyas on Jun 24, 2009 in
WiMAX 
Redline Communications, a Canadian manufacturer of Fixed and Mobile WiMAX equipment announced that it received $10 Millions (Canadian) financing loan from the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development.
“This government loan will help Redline remain at the forefront of the broadband wireless industry worldwide, and allow it to further grow its design and development capability for ‘Fourth Generation’ (4G) commercial, military and government broadband wireless networks,” said Mihnea Moldoveanu, Redline’s Founder and Chief Strategy Officer.
Forefront?
I think it should be “Keeping our heads above water”.
Tags: Redline Communications
Posted by Avi Telyas on Jun 19, 2009 in
WiMAX 
Israeli online business news Calcalist reports (Hebrew) that Gilat is in negotiations to acquire Airspan Networks.
The acquisition sum is rumored to be around “few tens of Millions of Dollars” while Airspan is currently traded in the Pink Sheets after voluntarily delisting from Nasdaq and traded for about $4 Millions.
The article mentions a few problems in this rumored acquistion:
- Airspan’s commitments to Oak Investment Partners after their investment in 2006, which drives the price higher than the book value.
- Airspan HQ are in Boca Raton, Florida with development offices in England and Israel, Sales offices around the world. It is not that easy to absorb such an international company.
- In 2008 Airspan had revenues of $70 Millions which resulted in an operational loss of $50 Millions. Alvarion had similar revenues for Q1, 2009 alone.
Gilat is reported to be sitting on a pile of cash, but from a short analysis of the infromation above, I would recommend Gilat to negotiate harder.
Tags: Airpsan, Gilat