Fujitsu has announced the development of the BroadOne(TM) WX series of mobile WiMAX(*1) base stations. The BroadOne WX300, an outdoor macrocell base station, is light, energy-efficient, and - as the smallest in its class(*2) - occupies less space, which makes it economical to deploy. The BroadOne WX300 will be available globally beginning in the second quarter of 2008 (April-June).
Wireless broadband pioneer Clearwire Corporation today announced it is teaming up with Google to deliver the company’s popular Google Apps(TM) communication suite to Clearwire customers. Clearwire will begin migrating its current customers to Gmail(TM) and Google Calendar(TM) in the first half of this year. In addition, Clearwire customers will also have access to Google Talk(TM).
The Basque Government has finished its wimax project, extending its wimax network to half of its territory, mainly rural areas where ADSL or cable were not available. The system is now available in 147 cities and is provided by Euskaltel, a company partly owned by the Basque Government.
Only three companies are currently providing wimax services in Spain: Iberbanda (bought by Telefónica in 2006), Euskaltel (regional Basque operator) and aeromax, a small company based in the Mediterranean Coast. Three more companies have a license and are willing to launch this service at the end of the year: Aló (Clearwire), Orange-France Télécom and Neo-Sky (Iberdrola).
Fon has decided to connect Madrid’s gay district, Chueca, after next Gay Pride Day. The wi-fi access points will be provided by Zero, a known magazine for gay people in Spain. If this iniciative is successful, it might be extended to other places in Spain.
Motorola’s Wimax development managing director for the Americas, Tom Mitoraj, gave a conference in Argentina in which he expressed his optimism in the possibilities of this technology. “It is the technology of the future, as it will bring the Internet to everybody’s palm”. He also thinks that wimax is a clear alternative to 3G networks, because of easier deployment and lower costs.
Two local companies, Cable Unión de Occidente and Avantel, have gotten most of the wimax licences in Colombia. 44 of the 54 regional licences have been given to these companies, leaving Telmex, Impsat and Diveo with none. Other firms getting licences are Emcali (2), Comcel (10), Comsat (1), Cablecentro (2), Servisatélite (2) and S3 Wireless (6). ETB, Telecom Colombia and Orbitel won national licences.
If you are wondering which is the biggest wimax provider in Spain, you will be surprised. It is not Telefónica, nor France Télécom. It is a small telecoms operator in the Basque region, Euskaltel, the same sponsoring famous cycling team Euskaltel Pays Basque.
A group of entrepreneurs from Catalonia (Spain) have launched WiLoop, a wimax provider for local businesses. The new start-up belongs to Eurona Wifi Networks and offers 2 Mbps to 8 Mbps connections together with Al-Pi, a regional carrier owned by France Télécom.
Intel wants to promote the development of wimax and low-cost PCs in Third World countries and, therefore, the company is going to invest one billion dollars throughout a period of 5 years. This project, known as “World Ahead“, aims to taking broadband Internet access to one billion people and to training 10 million teachers in the use of new technologies.