Category: WiMAX

In case you can’t read Hebrew, you may have missed the news that Alvarion mulls Layoffs.

This Globes article reports it in English,  but fails to mention that the number 10% was repeated in other websites.

Alvarion currently has more than 1000 employees around the world, most of them (around 80%) in Israel.

WiChorus received their Series C Funding of $18 Million, which brings the total investment in the Company to $43 million.

It is a reassuring step for WiMAX?

RedHerring report hints the opposite:
““Nobody can say for certain how bad or how long the downturn will be, but that is part of the reason why we sought a cushion just in case the economy impacts the [carrier] rollouts [of WiMAX],” said Renan Jalil, CEO of WiChorus.”

The report also keeps mentioning WiMAX, when WiChorus website is trying to rebrand themselves out of the WiMAX business, and into the 4G and LTE market as well.

A press release from Yesterday reports a successful First Ever Multi-Band mobile WiMAX Handover.

This was achieved using the MiMAX USB, a Quad band Mobile WiMAX USB dongle.

“Staged in the UK, this achievement was performed with the collaboration of long-term customer and partner FREEDOM4 and strategic partners Starent Networks, using their Access Service Network (ASN) gateway for connection management, and Bridgewater Systems, using their subscriber management solution that delivers carrier-grade authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) services.”.

I am very proud of this unique achievement, which can benefit operators:

“Carriers and operators will benefit from the option to deploy a single, large mobile WiMAX network using two or more frequency bands. In many regions, the availably of 2.5 GHz is limited. Now operators can aggregate spectrum to allow significant expansion of coverage and roaming capabilities. A carrier, for example, could begin with a small allocation at 2.3 or 2.5 GHz and add a larger, often more affordable, allocation at 3.X GHz or even 5 GHz.”

Disclaimer: I was one of the people who founded this project, and was the Software Manager of the MiMAX USB for more than 2 years

Comstar launched their WiMAX network in the presence of both Armenian and Russian presidents.
This is the Link to Armenian news website.

And an Excerpt:

The creation and commercial launch of the wireless network using the 3.6-3.8 GHz frequency range was implemented by Cornet-AM, an Internet service provider in Armenia, and a part of Comstar Group. The WiMAX network, which currently comprises 24 base stations, covers the capital of Armenia, Yerevan, as well as 18 Armenian cities. Airspan Networks (US) was chosen by Comstar as a provider of equipment for the WiMAX network. Base stations are connected via proprietary and rented fiber-optic lines, as well as through radio relay channels, with the backbone based on Cisco’s equipment. The Group intends to expand the coverage zone and the backbone in the future. The total investments in the project amount to US$ 4.6 million in 2007-2008. The volume of further investments in the project will depend on the results of the launch and overall development of the telecommunications market.

Comstar’s WiMAX network in Armenia is used to provide a broad range of telecommunications services, including digital telephony, broadband internet access, data transmission, conferencing and virtual private networks (VPN) for corporate subscribers. Cornet-AM currently provides services to corporate subscribers, and Comstar intends to start servicing residential subscribers and offer voice services in the future. Earlier this year, Cornet-AM applied to the Public Service Regulation Committee of the Republic of Armenia to obtain numbering capacity of 60 thousand telephone numbers. In addition, Cornet-AM has the license to provide inter-city and international connection services for its residential subscribers. Upon the receipt of the requested numbering capacity, Comstar will be able to provide the fixed-line local and long distance telecommunications services in a package with allocated telephone numbers.

Sergey Pridantsev, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comstar UTS, commented: “The national WiMAX network is a unique project for Armenia, and one of the first projects of its kind worldwide. The network deployment enables us to offer modern communications services in the country and helps to improve the life quality of its population. Some of the citizens will be offered telephony services and broadband internet access at their homes for the first time ever. The launch of this project enables us to truly become a national telecommunications operator in Armenia.”

An interesting article claiming that Sprint’s WiMAX (Xohm) is doomed to fail.

Link

Excerpt:

“Like EarthLink, Sprint is targeting incumbent cable and DSL providers with its service. The big difference is that it’s also offering mobility. But because there are only a handful of devices that support WiMax today, most people subscribing to the service will likely only be as mobile as they can be with an air card plugged into their laptop. In other words, they probably won’t be walking around town surfing the Net. Instead, if they aren’t at home, they’ll be parked in a coffee shop or library where Wi-Fi is typically already available.

And even though Sprint is competing directly with fixed broadband providers, it is not offering customers a huge discount. The home service, which requires users buy a $79 WiMax modem, costs $25 initially, but will eventually be priced at $35 per month. It’s also offering a mobile only service, which requires users buy a $59 WiMax wireless card for their laptop. This service starts at $30 and will increase to $45 after six months. The combination service, which allows users to share their bandwidth with other users at home and also offers mobility, will initially cost $50 a month. But the price is expected to eventually jump to $65 a month.”