Intel Provides Update on Global WiMAX Developments

On Wednesday, Intel executive Sean Maloney provided an update on recent WiMAX developments ahead of next week's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. "WiMAX is a global story; the technology is real, here today and has a 2-3 year advantage over other competing technologies," remarked Maloney.

In anticipation of next weeks Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Intel Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Sean Maloney provided an update in a tele-conference on recent WiMAX developments and outlined a list of global WiMAX deployments. 

"Too much focus (with WiMAX) has been placed on developments in the US and Clearwire," said Maloney.  "This is a global story; to understand on how it is doing you must take a global perspective.  From the very beginning, we wanted to have a global, ultra-fast, low-cost wireless internet solution that would help bridge the digital divide and last mile."  Maloney compared WiMAX to other standards-based initiatives that Intel has worked in the past such as Ethernet, USB and of course Wi-Fi.

The WiMAX Forum® also announced in a separate statement Wednesday that WiMAX service providers now offer networks covering 430 million people, or POPS, globally and are on a path to nearly double to 800 million people by end of 2010.  In addition, global WiMAX network deployments are approaching 460 in more than 135 countries for fixed, portable, and mobile networks

Also outlined during the call were leading PC OEMs including Acer, Asus, Dell, Fujitsu, Lenovo, Panasonic, Samsung and Toshiba that have delivered or plan to deliver notebook computers with embedded WiMAX.  As of today, 26 models have been certified with a total of 100 planned for the beginning of 2010.

"We are very happy with the progress we have made" said Maloney.  "Early last year, we said 2008 was the year that WiMAX needed to happen and we feel very comfortable with the progress.  Even under the current economic conditions, there is an emphasis on governments worldwide to invest reconstruction efforts on broadband."

The list of global WiMAX deployments and remarks by Maloney were as follows:


Japan - On February 26, UQ Communications will begin commercial services in 3 Japanese cities with 100K subscribers planned by the end of 2009.  UQ expects 90% of the population in Japan covered by 2012.

Russia - Scartel and Comstar have launched service with up to 10Mbs performance.  Moscow and St Petersburg have leapfrogged 3G services to 4G.  Scartel plans service in over 40 Russian cities and launched the world's first GSM/WiMAX phone with HTC.

Malaysia - PacketOne launched service in Aug 2008 and plans service in the majority of population centers.

Pakistan - Wateen has launched the largest WiMAX network in the world covering 26 cities with plans to grow to over 70 cities.  Service provider Mobilink also launched service in August 2008.

Korea - KT launched one of the first mobile WiMAX networks with WiBro.  For the past 2 years, WiMAX has been the fastest growing mobile data services in the country

Amsterdam - Worldmax has launched service in the past few months with over 110 base stations.

Venezuela - MobileMax has deployed WiMAX in Caracas in June 2008 with up to 20K users

Bulgaria - Max Telecom has been operating a WiMAX network for the past 2 years. 

Brazil - Embratel, part of Telmex, is operating a WiMAX network covering over 20 cities

United States - Clearwire has deployed the fast network in North America in Portland Oregon

Other networks are underway in Italy, India, Taiwan and Spain bringing the total to135 countries trialing and deploying WiMAX with 50 countries on their way to building full, commercial build-outs.

Intel has an executive press conference planned for Tuesday, February 17th at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and has organized the WiMAX Ecosystem Pavilion, Mobile Internet Evolved, Hall 8, Booth B109, showcasing the technology and WiMAX ecosystem partners.



 

Thursday, February 12, 2009 in Business  | Permalink |  Comments (2)