Category: WiMAX

It seems almost impossible these days, but Provigent have managed to secure a fifth round of investment after receiving a fourth round of $20 Million Dollars earlier this year (2008).

Lightspeed Ventures has joined as a new investor to a very long list of existing investors: Sequoia Capital, Pitango Venture Capital, Globespan Capital Partners, Magma Venture Partners, Ascend Technology Ventures, Delta Ventures, Stata Venture Partners, and Dr. Andrew Viterbi.

Lightspeed recently invested Purewave networks. I guess it means they believe in Wireless communications and WiMA, and that Provigent has real customers and prospects.

This post’s rant (I cannot seem to avoid it these days): Why do Provigent post press releases in Unprotected Word Format? HTML works great, PDF is not a bad option. Word?

I can only guess that Adaptix has changed their business plan from selling WiMAX equipment to suing other companies over Patent infrigement.Which means, Adaptix has probably filed law suits against other companies as well.

Sprint, Clearwire sued over WiMAX patents

This is yet another example of Patent abuse, as Adapatix was a WiMAX Forum member, and was totally aware of the IP issues WiMAX faces. In all the companies I have worked for, Patents were considered important, but we knew there is a small chance of actually suing other companies.

Airspan (NASDAQ: AIRN) just announced 700 MHz WiMAX Product Suite.

700MHz was recently “Hyped” by the media during the 700MHz FCC auction, and possible involvements of Google. But, putting the hype aside, there is a substnatial market for 700MHz products, both in the US and India.

Here is a market analysis for 700MHZ WiMAX.com, and here is a report from the WiMAX Forum about India.

Airspan was always strong in the 700MHz field, where Alvarion was not present. Alvarion did not release publicly any information or plans regarding 700MHz or other “non-standard” frequencies.

Technology aside, I found the press release a bit funny, as it is now “Fashionable” to mention President Elect Obama and his “Change” in many occasions, and Airspan chose to follow.

U.S. President-Elect Obama has been a strong advocate of extending broadband coverage to every U.S. community and has even been quoted as supporting tax and loan incentives to reach rural regions. We share in Obama’s vision and look forward to serving this important market

Since Cisco acquired Navini Network in October 2007, we haven’t heard much from them, nor can I remember a major Cisco deployment.

But here comes news from Malaysia:

Under the arrangement, Cisco will build and integrate YTLe’s WiMAX core network which includes the IP core, operating supports systems, billing systems, proactive network operating centre and interoperability testing labs to help YTLe quickly launch its services.

Anne Abraham, Cisco Services Malaysia country manager said Cisco will operate and supervise YTLe’s WiMAX system for three years before transferring the ­technology back to YTLe.

Not only Cisco will build the WiMAX network but will also OPERATE it for Three (3!) years. Can’t see how Cisco can make money out of this, but I guess there are reasons I am not aware of.

After Nortel, Alcatel-Lucent getting out of WiMAX , I am surprised Cisco are still in this business.

It seems Green is the new Black.

Clearwire “Clear” new Website is available with Covergae maps and Clear “Gear” shop. The dominant color in the design is Green, which is similar to 3GGP website, as I blogged 3GPP web Design.

Putting the design aside, Clear “Gear” shop offers several devices:

• Clear USB Modem – for $49.99 (without tax), cheaper than Xohm’s $59.99
• Clear modem (Motorola) – $5 a month (couldn’t find for how many months) compared to Xohm Zyxel modem $79.99
• Voice ATA is from Linksys

Plans are here, with up to 4Mbps DL and 384Kbps UL. Couldn’t figure out what is the committed rate, which as a customer I will inquire and test regularly.

Xohm uses Samsung Base-stations and device from Samsung and Zyxel while Clear is almost solely Motorola. I am sure the next few months will be challening for the new Clear company as they merge. Are we going to see a mixed network of Base Statio and Devices or will “Clear” win over Xohm?

Disclaimer: I am no longer with Airspan networks; The opinions expressed in this post represent my own.