Calypso Wireless (fka CLYW)

[nlightn]

bbaazz,...to follow up your article>Mobile WiMax (802.16e) is on the move:



* BellSouth and Navini are providing Pre-WiMax In Athens GA as well as New Orleans and other citys in the Gulf Coast. They'll use Navini's Ripwave-MX dual-mode CPE, which starts shipping in Q4 2005, and the Ripwave-MX dual-mode PCMCIA card targeted for 1Q 2006, will both be software upgradeable to Navini’s 802.16e system. Navini's Ripwave products run in the unlicensed 2.4GHz ISM band, or the licensed 2.3 GHz WCS, 2.5/2.6 GHz ITFS/MMDS, and 3.4/3.5 GHz WLL bands.

* MegaBroadband of Massachusetts launched the first commercial use of the 2.3GHz WCS spectrum in the U.S. using technology from Navini. They are partnering with BalRivgam, a WCS developer who is providing the spectrum. The initial network, located in Bristol County, Mass., will support up to 3,000 users. They plan to serve more than 10,000 users within 2 years.

* SK Telecom and Korea Telecom (KT) have 2.3 GHz WiBro licenses thoughout South Korea and plan to launch it next year. They'll be implementing Videocell Services next year and their mobilied version of WiMax (Wi-Bro). South Korea’s wireless broadband project is expected to cost $784 million to $900 million and provide ubiquitous broadband wireless throughout the country.

* InfiNet Wireless selected the picoChip WiMAX solutions for its 802.16d and 802.16e WiMAX system designs. InfiNet, a leading vendor of Broadband Wireless Access equipment in Russia and Eastern Europe has supplied pre-WiMAX gear for more than 300 carrier-class wireless networks throughout the world.



* Croatia has awarded 10 fixed line broadband wireless licenses for WiMAX in 3.5GHz, with WiMAX Telecom, one of the most progressive start-up operators in Europe, gaining a license for certain regions to add to its existing holdings in Austria and Slovakia.

* Nortel Networks will build a commercial WiMax network in Alberta covering approximately 5 million acres in southeastern Alberta – using IEEE 802.16-2004 (pdf tutorial), the fixed WiMAX, standard. The WiMAX network will operate in the 3.5GHz spectrum band and be made available to roughly 80 percent of Alberta Special Areas Board residents by the end of summer 2006. It also will extend the service area of the Alberta SuperNet Project, a provincial government initiative that brings affordable broadband services to approximately 4,200 government, health, library and educational facilities in 429 communities across Alberta.

Data Rates Achieved at Various 802.16 Bandwidths

* Airspan Networks and Yozan have expanded their contract to build a WiMAX network in Tokyo by $5 million, bringing the total contract size to $16.7 million (pdf). The project uses Airspan’s software-upgradeable radio technology using Airspan's called MicroMAX-SDR, based on the PicoChip array. Airspan and Yozan announced plans to build a Tokyo-wide WiMAX network this March. It will enable mobilized voice, video, and broadband data services using Airspan's software-upgradeable radio technology and will be upgraded to support 802.16e.

* Intel said it expects to be involved with WiMax trials in Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines by year-end. "The trials of the technology are starting now, and we see (commercial) roll-out worldwide over the next two to three years," said Sean Maloney, the head of Intel's mobility unit. "But it's patchy -- some places will be faster than others."

TechDirt thinks it's BS.

"Navini wins the award for the first to try to capitalize on this announcement by claiming they "lead" the mobile WiMax space. Navini, of course, wasn't a WiMax supporter until last year when they switched camps, but they're still offering their non-standard, proprietary wireless broadband and claiming it's "pre-WiMax," which somehow makes them a "leader."

Navini says their Ripwave-MX dual-mode PCMCIA card, targeted for 1Q 2006, will both be software upgradeable to Navini’s 802.16e system. The card will be capable of switching between the current pre-WiMAX mode and 802.16e mode.

The Ripwave-MX Basestation, targeted for 1st half of 2006, will be software upgradeable to 802.16e and will continue to support the Smart Antenna functionality available from Navini today. Unwired Australia has 36,600 subscribers in Sydney while BellSouth has installations in the Gulf Coast and select Florida cities.

"WiMax was built for outdoor mobility," said Paul Sergeant, director of marketing for WiMax at Motorola. "Wi-Fi wasn't. The challenge we face going forward is getting WiMax into more devices; 2006 and 2007 will be the introduction and build-out years, and products will start shipping in volume in 2008 and 2009."