The Intel-WiMAX Connection
From Road to WiMAX, a Businessweek special report. The story offers a learning opportunity. It is a historical view of how new technology ideas and products such as WiMAX were promoted as a solution to a problem (better broadband), how alliances were forged around the world, how standardisation battles were fought and how other challenges were dealt with. I have included two additional items which are not part of the BusinessWeek report. First, to give you a flavor of the worldwide campaign by INTEL to push WiMAX, follow this link to a video from Intel. Second, click on the thumbnail above to see a larger view of Intel’s WiMAX roadmap.
Certainly there is plenty of work ahead for WiMAX before it can be termed as a success but it has come a long way. Pakistan was among the first countries to jump on the WiMAX bandwagon. The BW article mentions, “More than 65 countries, including Mexico, Brazil, and Pakistan, are deploying the service.” Although this report article does not provide details, one has to keep in mind that these deployments vary from limited area trials to bigger plans and the prices are THE major barrier for the populations of developing countries.Â
The article also has a slide show about the pioneers behind the technology and business of WiMAX. Here’s an excerpt:
How Intel’s Sean Maloney shepherded through the technology that’s poised to rewrite the rules of wireless
Indeed, after logging hundreds of thousands of air miles, he has rounded up a remarkable coalition of chip, PC, consumer electronics, networking, and software companies in an effort to radically reshape the future of broadband with what’s now called WiMAX.
Intel faced withering criticism from tech analysts when it first cast its lot with WiMAX, but the critics have toned down their rhetoric. That’s because dozens of wireless telecom operators around the globe have also placed bets on WiMAX and plan to spend $13 billion over the next few years to build 300 such networks. In July, Sprint Nextel Corp. teamed with Clearwire Corp. (CLWR ) to create a nationwide network covering 100 million potential customers by the end of 2008. Already the first transmitters are appearing on light poles and towers in Chicago and Washington, test markets expected to begin service early next year. Major rollouts are planned everywhere from Pakistan to Australia to China by 2009.
Created by Babar Bhatti, TelecomPk.Net is a leading source of information and analysis about Pakistan Telecom industry. 
Loading ...