Redline: Fully Mobile WiMax Unlikely Until 2010

Mobile WiMax promises to be the best broadband option for emerging markets such as Latin America, but it is not likely to be available until 2010, an executive with Canadian telecoms provider Redline Communications told BNamericas.

According to Redline's VP for marketing and development Kevin Suitor, mobile WiMax, which allows a seamless transfer from base station to base station, is a natural choice for emerging markets that still have low telecoms penetration rates and limited legacy networks compared to mature markets.

Nonetheless, 3G mobile technology, which also provides users with access to mobile wireless broadband internet, is likely to get a head start in Latin America with deployments expected in many countries some time in 2008.

Suitor, however, believes that mobile WiMax will be a better investment for operators in the long run, offering better service capacity and broadband speeds at a cheaper cost.

WiMax based on the 802.16e general standard is already being deployed across the region and pilot tests for the mobile standard 802.16m are currently being carried out.

Several telcos, such as the Chilean unit of Mexican fixed line giant Telmex, Chilean triple play operator VTR and Dominican Republic telecoms startup Wind Telecom have all announced the rollout of 802.16e compliant networks over the next year.

MORE DEVELOPMENTS IN MEXICO

Redline sees Mexican telecoms regulator Cofetel's announcement at the end of March that it will auction spectrum licenses for WiMax in the 3.4-3.7GHz band this year as a catalyst for increased deployment and use of the WiMax technology in that country.

According to Suitor, WiMax is a useful communication tool in the areas of education, e-government and medicine and for offering broadband connectivity to areas where traditional telephony does not have coverage.

In Mexico the company recently announced a WiMax deployment with US chip manufacturer Intel for use in schools in the mountainous area of Malinalco, 77km south west of Mexico City.

Redline is planning other developments in Peru, Brazil and Paraguay, Suitor said without revealing more details."

Posted to the site on 10th April 2007