MSS Povolzhie chooses Proxim for broadband wireless network in Russia’s Samara region

Operator picks proprietary system instead of WiMAX for affordable broadband access to 32 million residents

WiMAX industry insiders might feel that 802.16 technologies are the greatest thing to happen since sliced bread, but it hasn't stopped network operators from selecting vendor-proprietary solutions or growing existing pre-WiMAX deployments. Proxim Wireless announced that its Russia partners RK Telecom and Geyser have secured a contracted to supply the company's Tsunami MP.11 5054 radios to MSS Povolzhie for a wireless network in the Samara region.

MSS Povolzhie is an Internet service provider and subsidiary of Megafon. The network will enable broadband Internet access for a population of over 32 million residents as well as businesses in a 2,500 square kilometer region. Prior to the installation of the Proxim network, the residents of Sberbank, Nafta and Lukoil in the Samara region had no broadband access to the Internet. The provider plans to offer broadband data and VoIP connectivity.

The Tsunami MP.11 family of point-to-multipoint radios launched before 802.16-based equipment was certifiable. The system uses a proprietary routing protocol to provide Proxim does offer a WiMAX Forum Certified base station at 3.5 GHz called Tsunami MP.16, along with non-certified CPE. A unique model of the CPE family is a subscriber station that also integrates a multi-radio Wi-Fi mesh access point for municipal wireless applications.

Why was WiMAX not selected for this deployment? Megafon required a wide frequency range - 5.15 to 6.08GHz - and channel sizes of 5, 10, and 20 MHz. A 5.8 GHz certification profile from WiMAX Forum exists using the 802.16-2004 standard and only 10 MHz channels, but no products have attempted certification. Quality of Service (QoS) methods, like those found in the 802.16 specifications, were also required; a capability that Proxim touts as equivalent on Tsunami MP.11 to functionality found in real WiMAX products.


By Jeff Orr

ORR Technology, LLC