NEC WIns Thai WiMAX Contract

Thailand's Crown Prince Hospital Foundation, which operates more than twenty domestic hospitals throughout the country, has contracted with NEC to provide WiMAX systems to medical facilities located in the country's northern Chiang Khong region.

Thailand's broadband communications infrastructure is currently undergoing expansion, but the vast majority of growth is concentrated in the Bangkok metropolitan area. As efforts to promote broadband expansion outside of Bangkok progress, expectations for WiMAX wireless broadband infrastructure is also on the rise. In January 2008 trial licenses were issued to 12 communications carriers in order to introduce WiMAX service nationwide. Early indications show that despite regional constraints and usage limitations, demand for WiMAX access, beyond large scale services, currently exists. NEC says that it regards its WiMAX services for Chiang Khong medical care as part of the expansion of local demand.

The Chiang Khong hospital WiMAX services will provide wireless broadband communications to locations within a maximum of five kilometers, which currently includes three medical clinics, and expands communications beyond fixed analog telephone lines to include new video and TV phone services that can assist with remote medical care.

Patients that were formerly limited to visiting only major hospitals for certain treatments will now be able to receive quality care from the convenience of a local clinic. Furthermore, the efficiency of daily medical care will also be improved by granting doctors access to high speed transmission for large capacity data, including images and information.

Medical facilities in neighboring regions and countries that lack the latest treatments and advancements will also be welcome to take part in the establishment of a new medical network.

In terms of Asian development, NEC began participating in Taiwan based WiMAX system trials in 2007, which resulted in an order for services from Tatung InfoComm in December of the same year.

WiMAX systems are also being considered for additional hospitals affiliated with The Crown Prince Hospital Foundation.

Posted to the site on 19th August 2008