Alvarion

Azulstar launches WiMAX at 3.65 GHz, with Alvarion equipment

Peggy Albright — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:32:26 -0400

While the U.S. wireless broadband industry is preoccupied following the big names in WiMAX, Sprint and Clearwire, smaller players are pushing ahead with their own WiMAX service and product offerings. Today, a little known municipal WiFi provider based in Grand Haven, Mich., announced it has launched several WiMAX networks in Western Michigan and New Mexico. The new services are of added interest because they operate in the relatively new 3.65 GHz band. Azulstar is using Alvarion's 802.16e BreezeMAX 3650 base stations and CPEs for use at 3.65 GHz.

Azulstar said it has been testing the WiMAX service since February in the West Michigan area, and it is now formally launching the service in the communities of Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Ferrysburg and Spring Lake, among some other locations. In New Mexico, it is launching services in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque, and it has additional markets under construction. The company offers WiMAX Internet and voice services targeted to businesses, homes, and governmental customers. It prices its service for businesses starting at under $275 per month, and phone and Internet home bundles beginning at $40 per month. It promises symmetric data speeds of 100 Mbps for business connections and speeds of up to 6 Mbps for home users.

Azulstar was one of the first companies to launch municipal WiFi, which it introduced in Grand Haven in 2003, and as such is no stranger to the challenges early entrants can encounter in new markets. Yet it has said that it believes WiMAX represents a better business proposition in municipal settings because it can be more economical to deploy while offering better performance and reliability. The company has high hopes for WiMAX in the 3.65 GHz band, claiming to have registered the largest number of base station sites for this use.

Earlier this month, NextPhase Wireless announced it had deployed mobile WiMAX in 3.65 GHz spectrum in Orange County, Calif. Towerstream and Pipeline Wireless are two other companies developing 3.65 GHz WiMAX services.

For more:
- read the release

Related articles:
Jackson Hole, Wyo. gets first certified mobile WiMAX network
Towerstream to launch commercial 802.16e
Muni-WiFi player Azulstar shifts gears to WiMAX
Don't underrate the influence of small WiMAX players
FCC: NextPhase a go for WiMAX

Towerstream boosts revenues, ARPU in Q2

Lynnette Luna — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:28:45 -0400

Towerstream, which targets the enterprise market with fixed wireless, announced its second-quarter revenues increased 53 percent to $2.5 million compared with $1.6 million in 2007. Meanwhile, customer churn for the second quarter was 1.17 percent, representing an improvement of 36 percent from the second quarter 2007.

CEO Jeff Thompson said: "These strong results reflect the continued maturation of both our newer markets and our sales force. Over the past 12 months, we have significantly increased the number of account executives and the customer pipelines developed by our expanded sales force is beginning to yield results. Our Internet-based marketing initiatives, and the success of our mid-range product offering of 8 mbps at $999 per month, are also driving sales growth."

Towerstream currently offers service in eight markets with plans to expand to 20 next year. The company is also testing standardized Mobile WiMAX with Alvarion for better economies of scale.

For more:
- read this release

Related stories:
Don't underrate the influence of small WiMAX players. WiMAX story
Towerstream to launch commercial 802.16e. Towerstream story

Jackson Hole, Wyo. gets first certified mobile WiMAX network

Lynnette Luna — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 11:40:31 -0400

Jackson Hole, Wyo., is the first city in the U.S. to get a certified mobile WiMAX 2.5 GHz network. DigitalBridge Communications (DBC) officially launched service today in the popular resort area using Alvarion's equipment.

DBC's goal is to bring WiMAX to underserved rural communities. It has fixed broadband wireless up and running in a number of markets in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming, and will work to upgrade those markets to standardized mobile WiMAX in the 2.5 GHz band within the next year.

Greg Daily, president of Alvarion's North American business, said DBC and other operators looking to target rural markets will benefit from the economies of scale of Sprint, which has ushered in the mobile WiMAX device ecosystem, and the new Clearwire, which is folding in Sprint later this year. "Think about the ecosystem launching and upwards of almost 100 devices that will come out at the end of the year. We're starting to see customers in small places like Montana and anywhere else in the world being able to access to architecture like this," Daily told FierceBroadbandWireless.

DBC's primary business model will be selling subscriptions to businesses and consumers in the Jackson Hole area. It will also look to institute a visitor-based model whereby visitors to the tourist area can buy a daily or weekly subscription.

For more:
- check out this release

Related stories:
Nortel teams with Alvarion on WiMAX; focus moves to LTE. Alvarion story
Research firm blasts mobile WiMAX. Mobile WiMAX story

ALSO NOTED: Alvarion wins U.K. contract; Canada's Rogers Wireless to begin selling HSPA-enabled HTC device; and much more...

Tue, 27 May 2008 06:59:51 -0400

> Alvarion said it has won a contract to deploy infrastructure in the 3.3GHz spectrum for U.K. network provider Metranet. Article

> Canadian operator Rogers Wireless will begin selling the HSPA version of the HTC Shift X9501 device. Article

And Finally... An annual survey conducted by research firm Millward Brown found that global awareness of Bluetooth technology is at an all time high with 85 percent of consumers recognizing it. Release

SPOTLIGHT: Alvarion reports $40M in WiMAX revenues for Q1

Thu, 08 May 2008 06:59:52 -0400

WiMAX vendor Alvarion announced record WiMAX revenues of $40 million in the first quarter, a 58-percent increase from the previous year. Cumulative WiMAX shipments reached $300 million during the quarter. Release

Towerstream to launch commercial 802.16e

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Towerstream is working with WiMAX vendor Alvarion to conduct trials of mobile WiMAX technology in the 3.65 GHz band. Alvarion also announced commercial availability of its 802.16e BreezeMAX 3650 base stations and CPEs for the band. Towerstream targets the enterprise market with fixed wireless and has indicated its intention in the past to upgrade to mobile WiMAX for better economies of scale.

According to Unstrung, Towerstream is ready to go with a commercial deployment soon in an unnamed market. But Towerstream isn't the first to upgrade to mobile WiMAX.

Xanadoo, a wireless ISP operating in the central and southern U.S., has upgraded its market in Springfield, Ill., to 802.16e and is working to upgrade the rest of its markets that are using technology based on Cisco's proprietary broadband wireless technology. Xanadoo has spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band and is targeting consumers and small- to medium-sized businesses to compete with DSL and cable offerings.

A recent report from analyst firm Maravedis cautions the industry not to underestimate the influence other U.S. players besides Sprint and Clearwire will wield in the WiMAX market. It appears most of the momentum lies with the smaller players at this point.

For more about Towerstream's and Alvarion's trial:
- check out this release
- read this article in Unstrung

Related articles:
Don't underrate the influence of small WiMAX players Editorial on WiMAX
Xanadoo upgrading to mobile WiMAX Report on Xanadoo

Companies team for WiFi-WiMAX roaming

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:59:54 -0500

Roaming solution provider Comfone, Alvarion and Iberbanda have developed roaming technology to take advantage of WiFi and mobile WiMAX.

The partnership enables service providers to deliver wireless connections by using Intel's WiMax Connection 2250 chip integrated into Alvarion's 4Motion product. The service runs over 3.5GHz spectrum provided by Spanish operator Iberbanda; the 3.5GHz spectrum is the most available spectrum in Europe.

The solution could be a boost for muni-WiFi networks. Muni-WiFi, to say the least, is going through a re-adjustment phase as cities shift from the mantra of bridging the digital divide to justifying these networks' existence based on solid business cases built around creating efficiency or saving money by wirelessly enabling functions such as meter reading and video surveillance. Technology-wise, WiFi has gotten a bad rap because it provides poor in-building coverage. Meanwhile, WiMAX players such as Sprint and Clearwire could use some anchor tenants to offer a solid revenue stream early on.

For more about the roaming solution:
- read this article from InformationWeek

Related articles:
Let's get muni-WiFi and WiMAX players together Editorial
Proxim shows mesh WiFi-WiMAX combo Report

SPOTLIGHT: Alvarion reveals new technology to enhance WiMAX

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:59:52 -0500

Alvarion introduced SentieM technologies, designed to surpass the mobile WiMAX basic technologies and offer better coverage, capacity and throughput per user to operators deploying Alvarion's mobile WiMAX 4Motion solution. SentieM includes advanced antenna and radio resource technologies in addition to distributed network capabilities, which is designed to improve the economics for operators and the quality of service for subscribers. Release

ALSO NOTED: ComVu offers live video stream over WiMAX; NexTone, Reef Point complete merger; and much more...

Mon, 28 Jan 2008 06:59:51 -0500

> Monaco Telecom, a Cable & Wireless affiliate, announced it is working with Alvarion, Cisco and Nokia to establish a Center of Excellence on mobile WiMAX. Article

> ComVu offers live video streaming from WiMAX-enabled devices. Article

> HP integrates HSDPA into Compaq 2710p notebook PC with Vodafone partnership in Greece. Article

> NexTone, Reef Point complete merger. Article

And Finally... Where are the missing iPhones? Article

ALSO NOTED: Navini and Fujitsu demonstrate WiMAX multi-vendor interoperability; Alvarion gets WiMAX trial in Argentina; and muc

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 06:59:51 -0400

> Navini Networks and Fujitsu Microelectronics America said they gave the first demonstration of multi-vendor interoperability using Smart WiMAX technology. Article

> Nokia is planning to bundle software from Devicescape on devices in its E and N series, that will log in automatically to WiFi hotspots. Article

> Argentina's Ertach chose Alvarion for a WiMAX trial. Release

> The ZigBee Alliance approved the ZigBee PRO profile stack. Article

> Ubiquiti said it introduced the world's first 700 MHz WiFi radio. Article

> Huawei joined LTE/SAE trial initiative. Article

> And Finally... A man was arrested in Hawaii for watching a movie on his iPhone while on a plane. Article

Report: Cisco to buy WiMAX infrastructure player

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:59:57 -0400

Unstrung reports Cisco is close to purchasing a WiMAX infrastructure company. The news doesn't come as a surprise as the market heats up and a number of large companies, such as IBM, enter the space and Cisco is the dominant 802.11 vendor in the enterprise world. According to the report, potential Cisco targets include Alvarion, Aperto Networks, Navini Networks and Redline Communications. Cisco already has had some involvement with Redline in deploying a WiMax network in Paraguay so it could be a front runner.

For more about Cisco's interest in WiMAX:
- read this article from Unstrung

Report: Taiwanese WiMAX CPE industry to explode

Mon, 01 Oct 2007 06:59:53 -0400

Taiwan's Market Intelligence Center (MIC) says shipment volume of Taiwanese WiMAX customer premise equipment (CPE) is expected to reach 651,000 units in the second half of this year, growing 800 percent compared with the second half of 2006. Full-year shipment value of the Taiwanese WiMAX CPE industry in 2007 is expected to rise to approximately $159 million, up from $22.6 million in 2006.

Taiwanese CPE providers are expected to play a key role in the growth of WiMAX. MIC says shipments in the second half of 2007 will be impacted by major WiMAX operators migrating from network trials to commercial networks. In addition, various Taiwanese makers have made struck contract-production partnerships with international telecom equipment vendors, including Motorola, Alcatel, Alvarion, and SR Telecom, which is expected to help the Taiwanese WiMAX CPE industry reach mass production scales.

For more about the growth of the Taiwanese WiMAX CPE market:
- read this article from cellular-news.com

ALSO NOTED: Nokia releases another UMA phone; WiMAX World announcement round-up; and much more...

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:59:51 -0400

> Nokia launches 6301 UMA phone. Article

> Navini Networks announced its mobile WiMAX device portfolio, named Surfer. Article

> Cedar Point, a VOIP specialist that historically has catered to cable, has added WiMax capabilities to its Safari C3 Multimedia Switching System. Article

> Airspan Networks announced its next generation personal Mobile WiMAX client device family called MiMAX. Release

> Redline Communications announced the North American debut of its RedMAX 4C Mobile WiMAX platform. Article

> Digicel plans to deploy a mobile WiMax network in the Cayman Islands using equipment from Alvarion. Article

> Aircom International selected WiMAX 20|20 LLC 's WiROI business case tool to further enhance its WiMAX market offerings. Release

And Finally... Computerworld lists 15 things Apple should fix in iPhone 2.0. Article

ALSO NOTED: Microsoft may be working on a Zune phone; Alvarion chosen for Russian WiMAX deployments; and much more...

Thu, 06 Sep 2007 06:59:51 -0400

> Champaign, Ill., is getting an outdoor WiFi solution using adaptive beam forming smart antennas from NextWave's Go Networks. Article

> Microsoft may be working on a Zune phone. Article

> Alvarion announced that its BreezeMAX WiMAX system was chosen for a deployment project intended to cover various cities in Russia. Release

> 3 Scandinavia and Nokia Siemens Networks have launched a commercial 3G Push-to-Talk and Presence service in Sweden. Release

And Finally... The Wall Street Journal's Walter Mossberg gives his assessment of T-Mobile's UMA service. Article (WSJ sub. req.)

DoCoMo creates WiMAX joint venture

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 06:59:55 -0400

Japanese wireless giant NTT DoCoMo announced a joint venture with ACCA Networks to deploy WiMAX technology in the 2.5 GHz band in Japan. The partnership was necessary because the Japanese government has banned existing 3G operators, such as DoCoMo, from getting any rights to the 2.5 GHz spectrum. The government wants to encourage new market entrants.

ACCA Networks will be in charge of overall management of ACCA Wireless, such as operation of high-speed wired infrastructure and sales of broadband wireless services. DoCoMo will help construct the wireless access network and provide technical assistance. DoCoMo's stake in ACCA Wireless will be limited to no more than one-third, according to government stipulations, since DoCoMo already offers 3G.

For more about the partnership between DoCoMo and ACCA Networks:
- read this release

Related articles:
- Motorola, Japan's Softbank to trial WiMAX
- NextWave to be only foreign carrier in Japan
- Alvarion's position in mobile WiMAX grows stronger

Alvarion's position in mobile WiMAX grows stronger

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 06:59:58 -0400

Alvarion, which has made a name for itself in the fixed WiMAX market, has been a bit of a slow starter in the mobile WiMAX world--the larger market opportunity. Analysts have questioned Alvarion's position relative to its larger counterparts such as Motorola, Nortel and Samsung that have better expertise in deploying mobile broadband solutions.

This week, however, Alvarion gained some momentum. It made a deal with AT&T Alascom, which will see the operator deploy Alvarion's BreezeMAX 2.3 GHz TDD equipment as part of AT&T Alascom's deployment of mobile WiMAX in Alaska. AT&T has a substantial portfolio of 2.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz spectrum in most of the 50 largest U.S. markets. So far, the spectrum has been essentially warehoused. Could AT&T's moves in Alaska signal some plans for the continental U.S.? And could Alvarion be a significant part of those plans?

Alvarion also made a deal this week with Japanese wireless vendor Hitachi to develop mobile WiMAX technology that can be used both in Japan and in the overseas market. The two are developing equipment using the 2.5 GHz band that is licensed for WiMAX in Japan. Hitachi is a formidable competitor in Japan having worked on WiFi and other wireless technology for years and winning some major mobile contracts there.

Meanwhile, in order to deliver a mobile WiMAX ecosystem on par with larger telecom vendors and system integrators, Alvarion has taken a number of steps to grow its mobile WiMAX partnership. In January, the vendor announced work with Accton Technology to produce and deliver mobile WiMAX CPE. Following the announcement, Alvarion unveiled its OPEN WiMAX ecosystem program, pointing to interoperability with silicon providers Beceem, Intel, Runcom and Sequans and with Cisco as a core network partner.

Last month, Alvarion and Arraycomm announced a technology partnership that integrates Arraycomm's intelligent antenna solutions into Alvarion's 4Motion mobile WiMAX offering. Leveraging a combination of MIMO, beam forming and interference cancellation, Arraycomm's A-MAS solution promises to deliver Alvarion two-to-four times the coverage and spectral efficiency of the WiMAX Forum's baseline profiles.

It looks like Alvarion's investments and partnerships are beginning to pay off.--Lynnette

Starent, Airspan team on mobile WiMAX

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 20:01:33 -0400

Starent Networks and Airspan Networks announced they will jointly deliver an end-to-end 16e Mobile WiMAX network solution. Airspan will incorporate Starent's Access Service Network (ASN-GW) Gateway and Home Agent (HA) with its MIMO-based 802.16e-2005 HiperMAX and MicroMAX Base Stations for Mobile WiMAX network deployments. The news follows Alvarion's announcement that it is now shipping 802.16e equipment.

To read more about the partnership between Starent and Airspan:
- check out this release

Alvarion enables voice services over WiMAX

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 19:01:35 -0500

WiMAX pioneer Alvarion yesterday announced the availability of a primary voice service over WiMAX networks enabled by the latest edition of BreezeMAX. This is good news for consumers in under-served areas, and for providers looking to offer voice services and broadband in places with little or no existing telecom infrastructure.

As important, the company says that its voice and broadband data WiMAX networks can be built quickly and without significant investments in a complete VoIP implementation because it may be deployed using the existing TDM infrastructure capacity of V5.2 legacy switches. This is even more good news to incumbents (ILECs) and competitive local exchange carriers (CLECs) as they can now adopt WiMAX as their basic network strategy.

Alvarion has been leading the WiMAX market since its inception, and now claims to have the most widely deployed WiMAX system in the world.

For more on Alvarion's voice services over WiMAX:
- see the company press release

Cheyenne's city-wide WiMAX public works network

Mon, 07 Aug 2006 20:01:38 -0400

Cheyenne, WY, calls itself the Magic City of the Plains. Perhaps. We note that Excelsio Communications and BIG Wireless use gear from WiMAX pioneer Alvarion to deploy a city-wide wireless broadband network. The network aims to support the communication needs of several public safety and public works departments in the city. The combined fixed and mobile network uses Alvarion's BreezeACCESS 4900, operating in 4.9 GHz for multipoint backhaul, and BreezeACCESS 900, operating in 900 MHz, to allow city workers mobile access in their vehicles, including connecting their WiFi-enabled PDAs.

Theresa Snyder, Cheyenne's CIO, does not mince words: "Our rather ambitious goal for this first phase was to offer the broadest range of services of any municipal wireless broadband network in North America." With the launch of the network, Cheyenne's municipal services now include centralized control of about 100 traffic lights, on-line processing for expedited building permits, access to GIS maps and data for firefighters and utility workers, and online parking tickets. The network also provides public broadband access and online community services in parks, city pools and malls, and mobile access for more than 80 city police and firefighters in vehicles.

Fore more on Alvarion's Cheyenne deployment:
- see this press release

SPOTLIGHT: Do-it-yourself WiMAX

Mon, 12 Jun 2006 20:01:33 -0400

You knew it would come: WiMAX pioneer Alvarion last week unveiled inexpensive, self-installable indoor WiMAX CPE. "It's cheap and easy to install," said Carlton O'Neal, Alvarion's vice president of marketing. "We think this is a breakthrough. It enables you to go mainstream with WiMAX." The CPE, called the BreezeMAX Si, features simple plug-and-play installation and will lead to nomadic and portable services. O'Neal said the CPE is the size of "a one-slice bagel toaster" and will be priced below $500 when pricing is firmed. He expects the Si CPE will be sold in retail outlets. Report.