Aperto Expects 5 WiMax Deployments This Year

US WiMax networks maker Aperto Networks expects to make five wireless broadband deployments in Brazil this year, company sales director for the CALA region, Mauricio Bouroncle, told BNamericas.

Aperto is in talks with mainly public sector organizations in the cities of Manaus and Belo Horizonte to establish wireless broadband networks in the 5.8GHz band.

There are many public sector organizations looking at WiMax for their digital city projects, Bouroncle said.

By using the 5.8GHz band, Aperto can offer wireless broadband and avoid having to wait for the government to auction specific spectrum in the 3.5GHz and 10GHz bands for WiMax services, according to the executive.

"Our market sources tell us that the [WiMax] auction is likely to take place next year and [Anatel has given] 3G preference," Bouroncle said.

The delay is stopping mainly telecoms operators from starting WiMax initiatives, although many have issued requests for information and are undertaking trials, he said.

"Within the first 12 months of [WiMax] licenses being issued, we would expect to see over 100,000 users in Brazil," Bouroncle said.

With the regulatory delay, Brazil is far behind other countries in Latin America in offering WiMax, the executive said.

Aperto has 35 wireless broadband deployments in the region, of which the largest number (five) are in Mexico.

The company expects another five by the end of this year in the region (excluding Brazil), Bouroncle said.

Based in California, Aperto serves more than 400 customers in 90 countries."

Posted to the site on 27th July 2007