Questions over WiMAX promise

EVERYBODY who appreciates freedom from the shackles of cables would
love WiMAX and what more when the new wireless connection offers
convenient communication, cheap phone calls, fast downloads and smooth
video streaming.

WiMAX came after WiFi, promising an even wider range than its
predecessor.
The wide communication mobility it promises has the whole world
catching on to the wireless broadband hype.
Malaysia is no exception. More so when it wants to raise its broadband
subscribers from some 600,000 now to 1.3 million by year-end.
For enterprises, WiMAX can provide a cost-effective broadband access
alternative. Its user-friendly installation process can break down the
monopoly of local telecommunication companies (telcos).
Since companies can set up their own private networks, telcos may be
forced to add value or lower their prices in order to compete.
Industries like oil and gas, mining, agriculture, transportation and
construction may find WiMAX useful when they need to operate in remote
locations.
WiMAX can provide Internet access to residential customers in suburban
and "really" rural areas - the window to a whole new world that the
now-obsolete cabled broadband could not offer.

A wider coverage gives room for Internet telephony to expand. With
wireless broadband, one can use the mobile phone to make cheaper
international calls.
But all these are still promises as many believe the technology is not
yet ready to provide a wholesome benefit.
Global WiMAX trials have been running for several years but none has
been rolled out commercially so far.

The issue lies in the standards. Mulnational firms which are involved
in creating WiMAX have yet to agree on a set of standard compliance for
equipment or systems. These systems and other information is available
on www.knowingabout.com ; you can get latest information about these
development from that site.

South Korea, rather than waiting, decided to jumpstart the deployment.
It created its own version of WiMAX, which is called WiBro (short for
wireless broadband).
Its interoperability between countries and its parent WiMAX remains
unclear. But since its commercial rollout will be earlier than WiMAX,
even Japan is now preparing for the deployment.

In Malaysia, NasionCom Holdings Bhd has stated its dream to make the
country into one big "hotspot" area, which means one can remain
online continuously while travelling within the nation. It owns a
3.5GHz fixed WiMAX block.
The firm, together with Intel and Deutsche Telekom, is expected to
commercially launch WiMAX, covering Klang Valley by year-end and the
whole country by next year or so.
But a fixed WiMAX spectrum has limited mobility coverage. The WiMAX
forum, in a move to upgrade the technology, introduced mobile WiMAX
with roaming capabilities last year and it has taken the world by
storm.

Domestically, the mobile WiMAX spectrum managed to attract 17
contenders into the ring. But the Government, upon realising its worth,
decided to defer the contest as it needs to draw up more rules and
requirements to find the perfect player.
But one thing is for sure: even the cellular companies (celcos) want
it. Although they do not see WiMAX as a threat now, the possibility
cannot be discounted.
Maxis Communications Bhd is one of the bidders. Its chief executive
officer, Datuk Jamaludin Ibrahim, had indicated his interest in WiMAX
early this year.

In a February news report, he said Maxis was really looking into WiMAX
because it covers a larger area compared to WiFi. But he acknowledged
the fact that it is not ready for now.
"The first phase of products will be ready in the next two years.
Even then it will have very limited mobility. Additional mobility would
only happen four to five years from now. It is a long way to go," he
was quoted as saying.
A bank-backed research house remains bullish on the celcos, especially
those with 3G in hand.

The mobile service operators with 3G, which offers video calls and fast
download speed, are already working on upgrading 3G to 3.5G (or High
Speed Downlink Packet Access/HSDPA).
While field tests show that WiMAX performance is better and cheaper
than 3G, its implementation is estimated to lag behind 3.5G by one to
two years.
On top of that, 3.5G already has 41 networks in commercial service
globally against WiMAX which has none, it said.
On the local front, 3.5G is likely to dominate, it added.

MoBif Bhd, an internet telephony firm, chose iBurst, another type of
wireless broadband, instead of WiMAX because of its availability.
iBurst is already being used in South Africa, Australia, Canada and
Kenya, and the world is just not ready for WiMAX, said its chief
executive officer Kevin Leong.
"WiMAX is in a dilemma now and the issue is standardisation. People
are talking about 802.16e (mobile WiMAX) which is not ready. And
although 802.16d (fixed WiMAX) is, there is a big question mark there.
"After investing in 16d, do I need to start investing all over again
in 16e?" he lamented.
So, all eyes are on NasionCom now.

The pressure is on for the firm to stick to its launching date.
Sceptics, with folding arms, are lurking at its side, waiting to judge
its success.

For further information : www.knowingabout.com/wimax