Posts Tagged WiMAX
Clearwire narrows losses, reports user growth, signs up Cisco (USA)
Clearwire, the US wireless broadband operator 51% owned by Sprint Nextel, has reported a narrowing of first-quarter losses to USD71.06 million, compared to a pro forma loss of USD76.44 million a year earlier (before Sprint and Clearwire unveiled their USD12 billion partnership to combine their planned nationwide mobile WiMAX networks). Revenue in the three months to the end of March 2009 rose 21% year-on-year to USD62.1 million. According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms database, Clearwire provides broadband internet services in at least 50 markets nationwide via fixed wireless networks which utilise a combination of pre-WiMAX and true 802.16e mobile WiMAX technologies. Clearwire, which has so far launched commercial WiMAX in Baltimore and Portland, Oregon, reported that it added 25,000 subscribers in the first quarter, bringing its total base to 500,000 (up 57,000 year-on-year). The firm expects to add 802.16e networks in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Chicago, Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Honolulu, Philadelphia and Seattle during 2009. The company said yesterday that it still plans to expand its ‘Clear 4G’ WiMAX service to 80 markets covering a potential 120 million customers by the end of 2010 but the plan could be altered depending on the availability of capital.
Also announced yesterday, Clearwire has selected Cisco as its national core infrastructure provider as it expands mobile WiMAX network coverage across the US. Clearwire’s all-IP network will be upgraded and extended under the deal, whilst separately, Cisco is also planning to move into the mobile WiMAX terminal device manufacturing market this year.
Add comment May 14, 2009
MagtiCom launches mobile WiMAX service (Georgia)
Georgian cellco MagtiCom has launched a mobile WiMAX service for residential and business customers, according to a press release by Cisco. MagtiCom, which is 50.1% owned by US-based Metromedia International Group, is deploying an internet protocol next-generation network (IP NGN) supplied by Cisco, that integrates mobile voice and WiMAX services into a single network. MagtiCom currently offers broadband internet via WiMAX in ten cities across the country including the capital, Tbilisi. By the end of 2009 it plans to cover all major cities and regional areas of Georgia with WiMAX broadband services. Kaan Terzioglu, vice president of Cisco for Eastern Europe, said: ‘WiMAX is an ideal technology for providing vast territories with mobile internet access. Citizens and companies across Georgia can now enjoy the benefits of connectivity, be it for business, education, health care or new online services.’
Add comment February 10, 2009
AsiaBell launches Kazakh WiMAX
The Kazakh ISP AsiaBell has launched its mobile WiMAX network in the Karaganda region of central Kazakhstan using equipment supplied by Cisco. The service, which is branded AERO, is being targeted at business and residential users in a region which is home to approximately one million people. AsiaBell chose Cisco’s end-to-end Broadband Wireless Solution, including an Internet Protocol IP Multiprotocol Label Switching (IP/MPLS) network core, which was integrated with the public switched telephone network (PSTN). AsiaBell also offers subscribers Cisco modems for use with desktop and portable computers. Stepan Vadyunin, CEO of AsiaBell, commented: ‘In 2009, we plan to expand AERO further across several regions of Kazakhstan and add video to our offering.’
Add comment February 10, 2009
Romania- WiMAX sale fails
Romania’s telecoms regulator ANC has revealed that it received no final bids for the two 3.6GHz licences that are on offer, despite receiving preliminary applications from six firms. ‘Signals from the market indicate that the main problem with these frequencies is their price, which the operators find too high. We will propose the Government a lower licence fee and then re-launch the granting process, as soon as possible’, ANC President Liviu Nistoran said in a statement. The licences will be used to provide WiMAX wireless broadband services; a third concession has already been handed to SNR in return for it agreeing to hand back the spectrum it already held in the 3.6GHz-3.8GHz band. The six companies that bought Terms of Reference for the tender were: Asesoft International, Comcore Management, Cosmote Romanian Mobile Telecommunications, Media Sat, RCS&RDS and Vodafone Romania.
Add comment February 10, 2009
Time Warner WiMAX (USA)
Time Warner Cable says it hopes to launch WiMAX wireless broadband services to customers in at least one US city later this year. The firm is one of three US cablecos to be partnering WiMAX operator Clearwire, which is aiming to deploy high speed wireless networks in cities across the US. Time Warner plans to offer its customers packages of cable broadband, TV and phone services coupled with WiMAX-based wireless internet access.
Add comment February 10, 2009
Sprint given a year to close some Nextel iDEN networks
The US cellular operator Sprint Nextel has been given twelve months to shut down its Nextel iDEN networks in territories served by affiliate operator iPCS. Sprint and iPCS have been arguing for years over the future of the iDEN mobile data networks; iPCS says the systems contravene the affiliate agreement it has with Sprint which says the larger firm cannot compete with iPCS in its exclusive service areas. iPCS has won a number of court decisions over the past two years, but the latest final order by an Illinois Circuit Court means Sprint has no choice but to close down or sell the offending systems. Sprint and iPCS are also arguing over Sprint’s WiMAX wireless broadband networks, which the affiliate claims also breaks their exclusivity agreement.
Add comment February 9, 2009
Nortel Bankruptcy and Costs Pushes Alvarion into Quarterly Loss
Israeli WiMAX vendor, Alvarion, which recently had to break up its mobile WiMAX deal with Nortel has swung into a fourth-quarter loss due a restructuring charge and the Nortel problem. The firm reported a quarterly loss of US$4.8 million, compared to a profit of US$12.4 million a year ago. Revenues rose 6 percent to $70.1 million, a decrease of 6% from $74.3 million in the third quarter of 2008, and increase of 6% from $66.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2007.Excluding a restructuring charge of US$3.4 million and other one-off items, the company reported a net income of $119,000, down from $3.1 million a year ago.
The sequential decline in revenues was primarily a result of Alvarion’s inability to recognize $2.4 million of revenues from the sale of products to Nortel Networks during the fourth quarter of 2008 after Nortel filed for bankruptcy protection in January and subsequently repudiated the joint WiMAX agreement between the two companies. The decline in Q4 gross margin was due to the write-off of the cost of the equipment related to the Nortel sales in the period.
Add comment February 5, 2009
UQ Communications soft launches mobile Wimax (Japan)
Japanese Wimax operator UQ Communications plans a soft launch of its mobile Wimax (IEEE 802.16e) service called ‘UQ Wimax’ this month. UQ will test the services in all 23 wards of Tokyo, in Yokohama, and Kawasaki, and is seeking 5,000 trial users. The company will officially launch nation-wide services at the start of July this year. Intel will provide the company with embedded Wimax devices, including Intel Centrino 2 processor-based notebooks and Intel Atom processor-based netbooks in the coming months. UQ Communications will offer flat-rate plans, with the basic plan starting at JPY 4,480 per month.
Add comment February 4, 2009
Nortel exits Wimax business, Alvarion deal
Nortel Networks has pulled out of a deal to resell mobile Wimax equipment from Alvarion and help fund development of Alvarion’s Wimax base stations. The network equipment maker partnered with Alvarion last June after cutting back its own Wimax efforts. Alvarion said that the collapse of the deal will take USD 0.04 per share off its fourth-quarter profits, due to be announced 4 February. As a result the company will report a loss of USD 0.08 per share, includign 6 cents for earlier announced restructuring measures. The company won’t be able to recognize about USD 2.4 million in revenue from sales of products to Nortel in the quarter. This will put sales at around USD 70 million for the quarter, at the low end of its earlier guidance of USD 70-78 million. Nortel filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month. Nortel said it will work closely with Alvarion to make sure it can continue to support existing Wimax customers. Nortel is obligated to pay Alvarion for certain research and development services beyond the fourth quarter, but in the wake of the bankruptcy, Alvarion said it’s not certain whether it will be able to collect. The companies are working on shifting over their joint Wimax customers to Alvarion.
Add comment January 30, 2009
Decision on 3G auction to be taken on 5 February
Thailand’s telecoms regulator told reporters this morning that it expects to stick to its rough timetable of issuing private companies with 3G UMTS mobile licences in the 2100MHz frequency band by the third quarter of this year, according to Reuters. Settaporn Kusripitak, one of the seven members of the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), indicated that an auction of four licences remained the most probable method of awarding the concessions, but the decision on whether this will go ahead will be made on 5 February. The NTC has also scheduled issuing WiMAX wireless broadband licences by mid-year.
Add comment January 28, 2009
Hong Kong Awards Three WiMAX Licenses
The auction of BWA (WiMAX) licenses in Hong Kong has been completed – with three winners. Three bidders have successfully bid for a total of 90 MHz of radio spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band at a total of spectrum utilization fee (SUF) of HK$1.5357 billion (US$198 million).With the assignment of the radio spectrum, the successful bidders will be able to deploy the next generation Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) technologies and offer a variety of advanced high-speed multimedia services. This should create a lot of opportunities for both network operators and providers of content and service applications, a spokesperson of the telecoms regulator, OFTA said.
This is the first time that the Government deploys an Internet-based software platform for auctioning radio spectrum, which is an important scarce public resource. With the participation of five bidders, we went through a total of 56 rounds of bidding over the past nine business days, the spokesperson said.
Add comment January 27, 2009
LTT plans WiMAX launch in Libya
Libyan internet service provider (ISP) Libya Telecom and Technology (LTT) plans to launch its first commercial WiMAX wireless network, and says it hopes to start with WiMAX coverage, including mobile WiMAX, in 18 cities. LTT hopes the deployment will provide internet access via a USB dongle plugged into a laptop to anyone within 50km of one of its towers. The operator’s new system, which has initial capacity for 300,000 subscribers, will begin signing up business users from next week and residential customers the week after.
Libya is home to around 51,000 broadband subscribers, while a further 170,000 of the population rely on slower dial-up internet access. The slow pace of broadband development in the country is hampered by poor PSTN provisioning, and the infrastructure that does exist is by and large outdated and limited in terms of coverage. LTT’s WiMAX network, which does not reply on the PSTN, will sidestep this problem and allow the operator to help bridge the so-called ‘digital divide’ in Libya when it launches the service priced at USD30 per month and a one-off payment of USD400 to include the USB device.
Libya Telecom and Technology is a pioneer in the internet and ICT field and has been in operation since 1997. It has signed equipment contracts with Huawei and ZTE of China for the new WiMAX network which will offer maximum connections speeds of 70Mbps. The new network is expected to go live in the first half of next year.
Add comment January 23, 2009
BSNL planning Kerala WiMAX launch for April 2009 (India)
Sstate-owned telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is planning to launch WiMAX-based services in the Kerala circle in April this year. Citing comments by Amit Mishra, general manager of marketing for BSNL-Kerala, the report says that the operator will install 450 WiMAX base stations in the first phase of deployment, as it aims to cover all major cities and highways in the region.
BSNL has also reportedly placed orders for 3G equipment in preparation for launching 3G services in the circle. It currently has 2,400 active cellular towers, and will add a further 200 in March 2009 and 1,800 more by December.
2 comments January 23, 2009
Israel’s WiMAX policy to be completed by end-January
Globes Online is reporting that Israel’s Ministry of Communications (MoC) has completed its hearing on WiMAX policy, and the final regulations are expected to be published by the end of the month. It is also expected that the regulator will announce a tender committee when it publishes the policy. No significant changes in the policy are expected from previous drafts, but the formulation of tenders for the licences is still understood to be unclear. Minister of Communications Ariel Atias has reportedly urged that the tender be based on the lowest price per minute, although the MoC is understood to be unsure how to implement this for the IP-based WiMAX technology.
Add comment January 22, 2009
CRa launches WiMAX service in Prague
Czech alternative operator Ceske Radiokomunikace (CRa), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Falcon Group which is itself 74.6%-owned by Mid Europa Partners, has reportedly launched a new 3.5GHz WiMAX service in Prague offering voice, data and internet access services to SMEs in the capital. Dutch company Telecompaper says that its WiMAX-based services are currently only available in Prague and its environs. CRa is offering a number of tariff plans for the new service, including a premium WiMAX offering, and is targeting residential and business customers.
Add comment January 21, 2009
ICE awards USD 12.5 mln Wimax contract to Airspan (Costa Rica)
Airspan Networks has announced today that I.C.E. (El Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad) of Costa Rica, the country’s main telecommunications operator, has awarded it a follow-on order worth approximately US$12.5 million through its local partner, Datatell, for a network expansion and the deployment of several tens of thousands of CPEs (customer premises equipment).
The network, operating in the 3.5 GHz band, is made up of Airspan WiMAX Forum Certified HiperMAX base stations and a combination of ProST outdoor installed CPEs and EasyST self-install desktop units.
“Airspan is excited to continue to supply I.C.E. with solutions for their WiMAX network. We have been working closely with Datatell to ensure that I.C.E. receives the best comprehensive solution, not only for the actual WiMAX equipment, but also for network installation, management and maintenance as well as radio planning. We look forward to an on-going strong relationship with the company and to continuing to help them quickly achieve their growth objectives,” stated Amit Ancikovsky, Airspan’s Vice President and General Manager, Americas.
Eric Stonestrom, Airspan’s President and Chief Executive Officer, added, “Incumbent carriers such as I.C.E. continue to select Airspan to solve their broadband connectivity needs. We are helping these operators quickly deploy field-proven networks whether overcoming challenging terrain, serving diverse demographics, or providing a quick return on aggressive business models.” Stonestrom continued, “Despite the challenging economic times, the business case for wireless broadband connectivity around the world remains compelling. Airspan’s combination of strong customer focus and award-winning products continue to create value for our customers.”
Add comment January 21, 2009
Anite Launches New Mobile WiMAX Host Tester
Test systems vendor, Anite has announced the launch of its Mobile WiMAX Host Tester, which it says is the only Host Testing Solution available in the market for Mobile Station Stack developers and integrators.For mobile handset and base station developers, Anite’s Host Tester (HT) allows the user to test the protocol stack in isolation of any hardware. This has benefits in two principal development phases, pre-ASIC fabrication and during SW regression testing. Using the HT, the user reduces the risk of multiple chipset development turns by correcting potential problems in the pre-silicon protocol development stage, providing developers with the ability to test before the final chipset hardware is completed. During regression phases, new SW updates can be tested in Host mode to isolate whether problems have been introduced on the HW or SW. In addition to development tests, HT also supports Protocol Conformance Testing (PCT), a certification requirement of Mobile WiMAX as defined by the WiMAX Forum. HT supports data throughput testing and has loop-back functionality.
1 comment January 21, 2009
P1 begins WiMAX in Penang, 70% coverage of the state expected in 18 months (Malaysia)
The first set of trial locations for Packet One’s (P1’s) Wireless@Penang have begun service, The Edge Daily reports. Following the launch Penang’s Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng, announced that the service would be rolled out across additional locations over the next six months. Approximately 70% of Penang Island and Seberang Perai are expected to have WiMAX coverage within the next 18 months. P1 currently offers commercial WiMAX services in the Klang Valley and Johor Baru.
Add comment January 20, 2009
BSNL to begin WiMAX services in Ahmedabad (India)
Online news portal DNA Money is reporting that state-owned telco Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) is planning to roll out WiMAX services in the city of Ahmedabad by the end of January. BSNL ran trial WiMAX networks in eight cities during 2007, but the operator has indicated it will focus initial deployment of the technology in rural regions. BSNL has said it will spend INR16 billion (USD329.9 million) on the new infrastructure and aims to cover 25,000 villages within a year. Despite the auction process for WiMAX spectrum having not been completed, BSNL has already received spectrum in three circles; Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Add comment January 19, 2009
Comstar Soft Launches WiMAX Network in Moscow
Russia’s Comstar has soft launched a wireless broadband network in Moscow, which is based on standard 802.16e WiMAX technology. The full commercial launch of the wireless network using the 2.5-2.7 GHz frequency range and based on Nortel technological solutions is expected to be implemented in the second quarter of 2009.Comstar invested approximately US$20 million in the project during 2008.The ongoing use of Comstar’s mobile WiMAX network will be free of charge during the test phase. Subscribers participating in the trial will be charged RUR 4,600 (US$146) for a USB compatible WiMAX adapter, and pre-pay a monthly fee of RUR 200 (US$6.30) for the first month of use following the full commercial launch of the WiMAX network. Participating subscribers will then also be eligible for a discounted ongoing tariff plan of RUR 200 from the date of the commercial launch for 2 gigabytes of internet traffic per month.
Details of the tariff plans subscribed after the end of the trial period following the full commercial launch will be announced in due course.Sergey Pridantsev, President and Chief Executive Officer of Comstar UTS, commented: The launch of mobile WiMAX services in Moscow makes Comstar a truly universal communications provider, offering a complete range of telecommunications services to customers in Moscow. The combination of the WiMAX network with our fixed line internet broadband access services enables us to create a unified communications space. Users will be able to remain connected at all times – at home, at work and on the move. The network will provide secure outdoor connection coverage across almost all of Moscow. We are meticulously testing the new WiMAX network prior to full commercial launch, in order to ensure the highest possible service and efficiency levels.
Add comment January 16, 2009
WiMAX network to be expanded (Myanmar)
Myanmar News reports that by the end of this month Red Link’s WiMAX network will have coverage of almost every township in the capital Yangon. According to U Myo Myint Nyunt, the company’s sales and marketing manager, Red Link has network coverage of 14 townships in eastern Yangon and one in the south. The extended network will cover Botahtaung, Pazundaung, Mingalar Taung Nyunt, Tarmwe, Yankin, Thingangyun, Thaketa, Dawbon, South Okkalapa, North Okkalapa, Dagon Myothit (North), Dagon Myo Thit (South), Dagon Myothit (East) and Dagon Seikkan townships to the east and Thanlyin township to the south.The service costs MMK1500 (USD237) to install, with variable monthly charges; the Enterprise Plan offers speeds of up to 256kbps, three email accounts and costs MMK75 per month.
Add comment January 14, 2009
Tata Communications aims to raise INR30 billion for acquisitions, spectrum bids
Indian fixed line and broadband operator Tata Communications (formerly VSNL) is planning to raise up to INR30 billion (USD605 million) through a combination of debt financing and a rights issue. According to local news sources the operator has approached the Indian government, which holds a 26% stake in the company, regarding the rights issue, which is expected to raise up to INR10 billion. The operator has been attempting to raise equity since early 2008, although the state has not approved any of the company’s previous proposals. It is understood that Tata Communications will use the funds raised to pursue acquisitions in both the US and the UK as part of its submarine cable projects. Additionally, Tata is expected to bid for Indian WiMAX spectrum when it is finally auctioned in the first half of 2009.
Add comment January 12, 2009
Delta Telecom to deploy mobile WiMAX by end-January (Azerbaijan)
Azerbaijan’s Delta Telecom plans to introduce the country’s first mobile WiMAX network by the end of this month. Alcatel-Lucent has been contracted to supply the equipment for the new network, in a deal signed in September 2008. Delta Telecom will be able to offer customers high speed internet access and voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) services.
Add comment January 12, 2009
MIRS may drop WiMAX plans, may consider MVNO operation (Israel)
Israeli integrated Digital Enhanced Network (iDEN) operator MIRS is reconsidering its plans to roll out a WiMAX network in the country. MIRS is understood to have become frustrated with repeated delays by Israel’s Ministry of Communications (MoC) to draft WiMAX regulations. As an alternative the operator is believed to be mulling new operations as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO). MIRS received approval from the MoC for two trial WiMAX networks in Tel Aviv and Askelon in July 2008. However, the regulator has still not finalised dates for a full WiMAX tender, despite having originally announced its intention to licence frequencies back in February 2007.
Add comment January 9, 2009
Vodafone Qatar IPO set for next month
Vodafone Qatar expects its delayed initial public offering (IPO) to go ahead next month, Reuters reports. The start-up mobile and fixed line operator is poised to break the monopolies of state-run Qatar Telecom (Qtel) but must first receive approval from the Qatar Financial Markets Authority (QFMA) to proceed with its planned IPO of 40% of its shares. A company spokeswoman told Reuters this morning, ‘Because of market conditions the QFMA told us to hold off and propose a new date, which we did…We will be given a date next month.’ The spokeswoman confirmed that Vodafone Qatar remained on track to launch commercial mobile services on 1 March, over a GSM network with capacity for one million users, although she added, ‘We will have customers on the first day but we don’t know how many. It will be a phased launch approach.’ Negotiations between Vodafone Qatar and Qtel about interconnection charges are ongoing, the spokeswoman said.
A consortium of UK-based Vodafone Group and Qatar Foundation (a non-profit organisation established by Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani) won Qatar’s second mobile operating licence in December 2007 with a bid of QAR7.716 billion (USD2.12 billion). It was awarded its 20-year concession on 29 June 2008, after completing legal processes to finalise its ownership structure and submitting plans for an IPO to sell 40% of its shares to the public and 15% to local governmental institutions, as a pre-requisite to launching services in the country. The IPO was originally scheduled for end-June 2008, before a new deadline of 30 November 2008 was put forward, but the company did not get the go-ahead from the financial regulator. After the planned share sales Vodafone Group will control 22.95% of Vodafone Qatar. Of the remainder, Qatar Foundation holds 22.05%, and the rest has been allocated for public shareholders (40%) and government/domestic institutions (Foundation for Education, Science & Community Development [5%], Military Pension Fund [3.3%], Military Staff Loan Funds [3.4%] and Health & Education Endowment [3.3%]).
On 15 September 2008 Vodafone Qatar was announced as the winner of Qatar’s second fixed line network operating licence, with a WiMAX wireless frequency concession thrown in. As the largest single shareholder, Vodafone Group has overall board control and a five-year management contract.
Add comment January 9, 2009
NHH: GSM/UMTS/WiMAX frequency tender attracts high level of interest (Hungary)
The National Communications Authority of Hungary (NHH) has announced that it has received a higher than expected number of applications for its tenders to increase competition in the mobile market and to increase broadband internet coverage via WiMAX technology. By the deadline, a total of four bids had been received for bundle ‘A’, which allows a fourth GSM/UMTS service provider to enter the market, exceeding expectations. The tenders were submitted by Digi, Dream Com Tavkozlesi, Invitel Tavkozlesi and Mobinet Tavkozlesi Projekt.
Two firms submitted applications for the so-called bundle ‘B’ allocation (450MHz), namely Digi and Mobil Wireless Broadband Hungary. The regulator says that if either of these tenders prove to be successful, the winner will be allowed to deploy wireless broadband coverage to sparsely populated areas and municipalities. Under the terms of the tender conditions, incumbent mobile operators, enterprises belonging to the same company group, companies directly or indirectly owned by the Hungarian state and service providers with spectrum usage rights for the 3.5GHz frequency were barred from bidding for bundle ‘B’.
The NHH also opened up the 26GHz frequency band (bundle ‘C’), allocating five frequency blocks in all. In a press release the watchdog stressed that the 26GHz band is considered crucial ‘in the development of the internal infrastructure of future winners, and could contribute to the significant increase of wireless broadband coverage in Hungary.’ Bundle ‘C’ will be awarded to a consortium – one member of which must have also won the tender for bundle ‘A’. Invitel Tavkozlesi and Vodafone Magyarorszag were the applicants to submit a joint bid on Friday for bundle ‘C’. In addition, at the end of November 2008 two 26GHz frequency bundles (‘D’ and ‘E’) were also made available for bidding. Bundle ‘D’, for which there are no specific restrictions on bidders, received one application from Magyar Telekom. Meanwhile, bundle ‘E’ was open for bidding to all companies except incumbent mobile service providers, and by the deadline had received interest from Antenna Hungaria and GTS Datanet Tavkozlesi, the NHH said. The regulator has also reserved 26GHz frequency bundles (classed ‘F’ and ‘G’) for the bidders of bundles ‘A’ and ‘B’ – that is, for each of the future winners of the bundles. Invitel Tavkozlesi, Mobil Wireless Broadband Hungary and Mobinet Tavkozlesi Projekt all entered bids for both bundle ‘F’ and bundle ‘G’.
In the case of successful bids, winners of bundles ‘A’ and ‘B’ will be granted frequency usage rights for 15 years, and winners of bundles ‘C-G’ will enjoy such rights for a period of ten years.
Add comment January 8, 2009
DoT rejects demands for 3G/WiMAX base price increase (India)
India’s Economic Times is reporting that the Department of Communications (DoT) has rejected demands by the finance ministry to increase the base price for both the upcoming 3G and WiMAX auctions. The finance ministry advocated a doubling of the reserve price earlier this week, but it is believed that the DoT has decided against the increase as it believes it could reduce interest in the auction process. The DoT has previously indicated that it has received a poorer than expected response from international companies, with the difficult economic climate cited as one factor that has dissuaded possible bidders. The regulator is also understood to have claimed that any increase in the auction’s base price could translate to higher costs for 3G services for consumers. Despite the DoT’s rejection, it is widely expected that the 3G auction will be delayed from its current date of 30 January, with the law and commerce ministries both rumoured to be considering seeking changes to the country’s 3G policy.
Add comment January 7, 2009
3G auction process delayed to 30 January, may fall further back (India)
India’s upcoming 3G auctions look set for yet another delay, having only recently been pushed back to 30 January. The initial delay, from 15 January, came as a result of requests from potential bidders for more time to prepare for the process. The finance ministry has now recommended that the base price for the auctions be doubled from the previously agreed INR20.2 billion (USD412 million) for pan-India spectrum allocation. It is also recommending a doubling of the base price for WiMAX spectrum. Reports indicate that that the ministry has called on the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to resubmit its auction proposal for reconsideration next week. The move comes as the ministry believes that more revenue could be generated from the auctions, with demand for the spectrum expected to be high, particularly in India’s main cities.
Add comment January 6, 2009
Japanese WiMAX Network Launched in Okinawa
Japan’s Okinawa Telemessage, a broadband access service provider has launched a WiMAX Network using Airspan solutions. Beginning with Nanjo City, Okinawa Telemessage will provide more than 500,000 households in Okinawa Prefecture with high-speed broadband access.Operating in the 4.95 GHz frequency band, the WiMAX network deployment is well underway and, upon completion, will consist of more than two hundred Airspan base stations spread over Okinawa Island.
This project benefitted from Japan’s government broadband policy. The government’s ‘u-Japan’ broadband strategy provides for money or tax incentives to cities to deploy broadband with the hopes of completing full broadband coverage to the entire nation by 2010. Nanjo City provided Okinawa Telemessage with roof-top property for placement of base stations, as well as city-owned fiber optic backhauling.
Add comment January 5, 2009
DoT sets 3G and WiMAX auction dates (India)
India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has set the date of 16 January 2009 for the auctioning of 3G licences. The regulator announced the date at the same time as it released the final guidelines for the auction process, and a pre-bid conference will be held on 23 December, with the final date for submissions set as 5 January. The DoT has also clarified the status of spectrum availability, noting that Mumbai and Delhi will only be able to accommodate four and two new 3G licensees respectively. Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh will offer spectrum to three players, while the remaining circles will allow for four licensees.
The DoT has also announced that the auctions for WiMAX spectrum will be held two days after the close of the 3G auction process. The WiMAX auction process is expected to see three players in each circle offered spectrum.
Add comment December 16, 2008
