Australia and WiMAX July 31, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Word on the Street Is....add a comment
BigAir Limited, a successful broadband operator in Australia, is the first to offer commerical WiMAX is Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney, Australia–with a view to nationwide expansion, according to an article in Mobilised. This is great news for Australia, a country with some terrain that makes wired connectivity difficult, if not impossible. The new WiMAX network will offer faster and more reliable services and, in the future, make connectivity possible for regions where this may not have been possible otherwise.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Australia
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
WiMAX and Net Neutrality: A Compromise July 30, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Analyses and Speculations.add a comment
In light of all the recent developments in the world of WiMAX, (Sprint and Clearwire’s merging of forces, WiMAX deployment abroad, the bid for 700 MHz and Google etc.) I thought it might be interesting to revisit last year’s Wall Street Journal article on WiMAX and net neutrality in juxtaposition to this TechDirt critique, which rather skeptically questions the impact WiMAX will have on what the WSJ calls “the phone and cable companies’ comfy duopoly.”
When examining these arguments within the context of recent developments it becomes apparent that, rather than wilt, the realities of a nationwide WiMAX network have become even more of a pressing reality over the past year. If anything this is evidence of increasing competition and innovation, rather than the strengthening of broadband’s so-called unbreakable monopoly.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Net Neutrality
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
After Web 2.0, Imagine If… July 25, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Uncategorized.add a comment
This is not exactly WiMAX-related, but certainly a humorous look into where Web 2.0 has taken us. Kudos to The Onion for creating this!
Technorati Tags: Web 2.0, Web Crash of 2007
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
Sprint and WiMAX…Oh Ye With Little Faith July 24, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Analyses and Speculations.1 comment so far
In RCR Wireless News’ most recent Analyst Angle, Peter Jarich argues that Sprint Nextel is actually bad for WiMAX. Why? According to Jarich, it’s all about timing and expectations. While Sprint is talking up the beauty and benefits of WiMAX, the reality is that WiMAX-enabled devices are not yet visible on the horizon.
Jarich makes a fair point as far as the discrepancy between WiMAX’s network development in the hands of Sprint and the evolution of related devices. However, his lens is somewhat cynical. Is there not also a possibility that WiMAX’s deployment could result in a more rapid development of WiMAX-enabled devices to match the new technology? In fact, the capabilities WiMAX introduces could even encourage the development of more mobile-friendly devices, as I discussed in a previous post. While skepticism often seems to be a favorable approach in analyses and speculations, the positive alternative is still a possibility–particularly with the prospects WiMAX has to offer.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Sprint, mobile devices
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
Google, WiMAX and the Bid for 700 MHz July 23, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Word on the Street Is....1 comment so far
In 2009, 700MHz radio spectrum around the U.S. will be up for auction and several contenders want a hand in it. Aside from traditional carriers, Google Inc. and Frontline Wireless LLC, among others, are poised to bid for the spectrum—though Google has several conditions. Specifically, it wants the government to “require any-device, any-application networks” in addition to requiring winners of the bid to sell wholesale network access.
The WiMAX network Sprint and Clearwire are developing plans to utilize a frequency of 2.5GHz. What’s the difference between 2.5 GHz and 700MHz? For one thing, the 700MHz spectrum can cover more area. One estimate is that a single 700MHz tower can cover up to 20 miles. It also penetrates buildings and walls more easily. This means that creating a nationwide network on 700MHz would require fewer towers and base stations, therefore covering more area in less time using less money–a tempting prospect in the face of WiMAX developments. However, there is a some debate as to whether one can do broadband on a 700MHz spectrum.
Google’s proposition aside, Frontline Wireless LLC, Cyren Call Communications and others would like to utilize the 700MHz spectrum for public safety purposes. What the government will require of the spectrum and how the auction will go remains to be seen.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Sprint, Clearwire, Google
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
Sprint and Clearwire Wed, WiMAX-style July 19, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Word on the Street Is....add a comment
Well, it’s happened. After much speculation as to whether Sprint and Clearwire would join forces in their respective investments in WiMAX, The Wall Street Journal reported earlier today that the two companies have reached an agreement to provide roaming services to each other’s customers, swap radio spectrum, share Sprint’s cellular broadband network, and jointly market their WiMAX services. This 20-year agreement, which should be finalized within two months, will doubtlessly increase the national footprint of both companies, enabling Sprint to reach its stated goal of covering 100 million people by the end of 2008. In addition, the article alludes to further talks Sprint is engaging in with cable operators and investors. Once criticized for their large investment in WiMAX, it seems Sprint’s rollout is gaining steam rather than puttering out over time, as some thought.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, Sprint, Clearwire
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
WiMAX Glossary July 18, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Straight Definitions.add a comment
I’ve added a Glossary page with concise WiMAX-related terms and definitions. As the weeks go by I will expand and refine it further in the spirit of developing the informative content of this blog. Enjoy!
Technorati Tag: WiMAX
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
London: WiMAX and the Wireless Trend July 17, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Analyses and Speculations.add a comment
The New York Times recently reported on London’s installation of a free Wi-Fi network that runs along 13.6 miles of the River Thames and is set up for an 8-plus mile expansion in the next month alone. The article referred to the network as part of a “gradual trend toward free public wireless Internet access in Europe and the United States.”
This is an interesting statement in the wake of Paris’ developments in the world of wireless access as well as the general sense of urgency in making access synonymous with mobility. Online-4-Free.com even markets the new London network this way:
online-4-free is a fast, convenient, simple-to-use broadband internet access service. We’ve created a wireless (Wi-Fi) network allowing you to connect to the internet at hundreds of locations around the UK – in coffee shops, bars and even outside while enjoying the sunshine!
This increasing fixation on wireless access—anywhere, anytime and under whatever conditions are most satisfying to the user—paves a perfect path for the introduction of WiMAX, which can further facilitate both the distance and speeds at which data can be accessed.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, free Wi-Fi, London
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
WiMAX and the Cost of Mobile Data July 16, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Analyses and Speculations.add a comment
WiMAX could potentially lower the price per megabyte of mobile data, according to a recent InformationWeek article. The article is based upon a market research study done by Analysys, which explores the potential effects of WiMAX deployment coupled with unlimited mobile data packages.
This study can be appropriately compared to the current specs on mobile data. With the iPhone’s monthly connectivity rates ranging from $60 to $99/month and Helio connectivity coming in between $65 and $145/month it is clear that mobile internet—and all the perks that come with it—is rather pricey. The potential effects WiMAX could have on pricing could very well change our relationship with wireless data, along with the profitability of cellular networks.
Technorati Tags: WiMAX, mobile data
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
Le WiMAX Meets France July 13, 2007
Posted by Ari Zoldan in Word on the Street Is....1 comment so far
In fairly straightforward WiMAX news, France has signed a two-year contract for the deployment of a WiMAX network. With equipment from Alcatel-Lucent and licenses from Société du Haut Débit (SHD), work on the new WiMAX network should be completed by mid-2009, according to a Cellular-News article. The contract has been signed after the success of a pilot program in Paris that began late last year, as described by French source 01net.
In a comment about the new contract, the Executive Vice President of SHD said, “WiMAX gives the possibility of distributing state-of-the-art services, particularly in rural or urban regions that today lack sufficient connectivity.”
Technorati Tags:WiMAX, Alcatel-Lucent, France
Ari Zoldan
Launch 3 Communications
Going WiMAX 