Wireless broadband

Proxim sells Harmonix division

Lynnette Luna — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 21:58:44 -0400

Wireless broadband vendor Proxim Wireless said it sold substantially all of the assets of its Harmonix division, which is part of its Terabeam Corp. subsidiary, to Renaissance Electronics for $5.3 million. As part of the transaction, Proxim and Renaissance entered into an agreement for the continued supply and support of the GigaLink radios developed and manufactured by Harmonix so that Proxim can ensure an uninterrupted supply of these products to its customers. Proxim views the Harmonix business as a non-core business. The division primarily sells millimeter wave systems, sub-systems and components for military and non-military government customers and Gigalink 60 GHz and 70-80 GHz radios.

In related news, Proxim has received a Nasdaq Staff Determination that indicates the company is failing to comply with the minimum bid price requirements for continued listing and is therefore subject to delisting from Nasdaq. Proxim said it is petitioning to stay the decision.

For more:
- check out the company's web site

Related story:
Proxim announces quarterly results, looks for alternatives for Harmonix Division

WiMAX Stats: Still awaiting the tipping points

Mike Dolan — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 10:26:08 -0400

By Adlane Fellah

At the end of March 2008, Maravedis' WiMAXCounts research logged nearly 2 million broadband wireless access/WiMAX subscribers. From fourth-quarter 2007 to first-quarter 2008, subscriber quarter-to-quarter growth was 19 percent and we have noticed the same quarterly growth trend since first quarter 2007. With a residential monthly ARPU of $48.08 and business ARPU of $146.02, this subscriber base generated estimated quarterly revenues of $366.22 millions, an increase of 20 percent with respect to the previous quarter.

There continues to be more residential subscribers than business subscribers, despite operator tendency to focus on business offerings. 65 percent of the subscriber base is residential vs. 35 percent business. However, the typical customer mix among operators is 52 percent business and 48 percent residential. This split did not change from the previous quarter. North America was the region with the higher residential customer base with 78 percent residential and 22 percent business.

Approximately 64 percent of the operators covered by WiMAXCounts have commercially launched BWA/WiMAX; 23 percent are currently deploying the network or testing WiMAX; and the remaining 14 percent either have idle spectrum (10 percent) or have returned/lost the right to use the spectrum (3 percent). There were various operators that planned to launch during the first quarter of 2008 and postponed their commercial launch until later this year, such as Global Mobile (Taiwan), which plans to launch in early 2009 and Sprint Nextel which initially planned for a commercial launch of Xohm in April this year.

One of the most important events that occurred during the first half of 2008 was the definitive agreement signed between Sprint Nextel and Clearwire to combine their respective wireless broadband and WiMAX businesses. Sprint will contribute its 2.5 GHz spectrum assets to the venture. The new venture will have more than 40 billion MHz POPs in key U.S. markets through the combined spectrum assets of Sprint and Clearwire. The new entity hopes to provide coverage to 140 million POPs by the end of 2010. Maravedis believes this coverage will be reached towards 2015 at the earliest. It is expected that the transaction will be completed in fourth-quarter 2008. This will considerably impact the future of WiMAX in the U.S. The new entity hopes its head start and spectrum position will help it become the strongest 4G operator compared to those in the LTE camp.

There continues to be more certified 802.16-2004 deployments than mobile and proprietary deployments. We have seen, however, an increasing interest from operators in the mobile version of WiMAX. During this quarter we accounted for 88 deployments using certified 802.16-2005 equipment as compared to 74 in the previous quarter; 106 deployments in the 801.16-2004 standard as compared to 105 in fourth-quarter 2007, and 54 proprietary deployments as compared to 64 in the previous quarter. We attribute the decrease of proprietary deployments mainly to operators upgrading their networks to offer WiMAX either in its fixed "16d" or mobile "16e" versions.

There are operators that have hybrid networks that are deploying a combination of proprietary and certified equipment. New operators that signed agreements this quarter to deploy mobile WiMAX networks include Axtel (Mexico) with Motorola, Embratel (Brazil) with Motorola, BSNL (India) with Soma Networks, VTR (Chile) with Motorola, and VTEL (Georgia) with Alcatel Lucent, among others.

As shown in Exhibit 1, the largest mobile WiMAX deployments reported during first-quarter 2008 were from Korea Telecom with nearly 150,000 subscribers and Wateen Telecom (Pakistan) with more than 10,000 subscribers at the end of that quarter. Wateen is today the largest mobile WiMAX Motorola deployment. In June 2006, Wateen placed an order for 198,000 CPEs from Motorola. Motorola has shipped 60,000 CPEs so far. In our latest conversation with Wateen, the operator said they had 25,000 subscribers by the end of June 2008. The operator expects to complete the order of 198,000 CPEs within the next year. We expect the gap between mobile "16e" deployments and "16d" will narrow once trials of 16e equipment are complete and certified equipment becomes widely available.

Approximately 63 percent of worldwide deployments have occurred in the 3.5 GHz spectrum, while only 17 percent in the 2.5 GHz spectrum. There has, however, been a lot of activity in the allocation of WiMAX frequency bands in the 2.3 Ghz and 2.5 GHz range, especially in Europe. Since the lower the frequency band, the better the propagation characteristics, most operators are interested in obtaining spectrum on these bands to deploy mobile WiMAX networks. That is the case in Russia, for example, where the frequency range of 2300 - 2400 MHz can be transferred from its current military use to WiMAX allocations. It is expected that up to three new licenses may be issued in this frequency range. In Germany an auction is expected for 2.5 GHz -2.69 GHz spectrum, and in Sweden 5 operators were awarded 2.6 GHz licenses. Many other countries are getting ready for upcoming auctions in these bands such as the U.K., Austria and the Netherlands. This might accelerate the number of mobile WiMAX deployments in the world and at the same time narrow the gap between the number of deployments in the 3.5 GHz and 2.5 GHz band--that is, if the spectrum is acquired by non-cellular operators open to deploying WiMAX! This is not a guarantee at this point and Intel cannot invest in every greenfield operator!

Adlane Fellah is the CEO and founder of Maravedis, a research and analysis firm focusing on broadband wireless technologies including WiMAX, 802.20, TD-CDMA and wireless local loop systems.

Anxiety rises over FCC's AWS-3 auction plans

Lynnette Luna — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:24:13 -0400

Despite the mounting criticism lobbed at FCC Chairman Kevin Martin over the commission's plan to auction spectrum that would require the winning bidder to offer free wireless broadband, there is no sign the chairman plans to abandon the plan, says an article in RCR Wireless News. That means the FCC is on track to adopt final rules for the Advanced Wireless Services-3 spectrum--the 2155-2175 MHz and 2175-2180 MHz bands--as soon as next month.

The chairman apparently sees that Democrats, who control Congress, support his efforts, but leading operators and Republican lawmakers are increasing the heat in hopes of getting the FCC to reconsider its plans. They believe such a move could be a repeat of the 700 MHz D-block debacle where the swath of spectrum didn't meet the minimum bid requirement.

"We think your proposed rules could repeat this mistake by tailoring the AWS-3 spectrum largely to the business model of a single party," Reps. Joe Barton (R-Texas) and Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) said in a letter to Martin. "Placing these conditions would result in the commission choosing winners and losers, as well as denying taxpayers the added revenue the spectrum would likely fetch if auctioned without the conditions." Of course, the single party the lawmakers are referring to is M2Z, which has been lobbying the FCC for two years with a similar plan.

The commission is proposing to combine the 2155 to 2175 MHz band with the 2175 MHz to 2180 MHz band to create a 25-megahertz swath of spectrum that would support a nationwide license. The spectrum is referred to as advanced wireless services-3 and would require the licensee to dedicate 25 percent of its network capacity to free broadband service, install a network-based Internet filtering system to block pornography and allow open access to third-party devices and applications.

Analysis from the Phoenix Center says that the FCC's proposed auction of a nationwide 25-megahertz license in the Advanced Wireless Services (AWS) band would garner about $2.8 billion at auction if the license didn't come attached with these conditions.

For more:
- read RCR Wireless News

Related stories:
T-Mobile calls for delay of FCC's free wireless broadband initiative. T-Mobile story
Report: AWS-3 license would fetch $2.8B without FCC's conditions. AWS-3 story
Interview with M2Z: Free wireless broadband can work. M2Z interview
FCC looks to fast-track free wireless broadband network initiative. Wireless broadband story

Startup intros WiMAX silicon platform to address backhaul conundrum

Lynnette Luna — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 01:10:39 -0400

DesignArt Networks, an Israeli fabless semiconductor startup, announced a WiMAX silicon platform designed to assist with the backhaul costs and capacity problems expected in this high-speed data world. The company is also planning a similar product for LTE. The company's new System-on-Chip (SoC) platform is made to enable operators to deploy smaller-sized base stations that can be used for backhauling the massive data traffic along with serving customers. The platform does this by integrating a technique called in-band backhaul, or in-band relaying, which integrates both base-station and backhaul capabilities.

Back in April, Sprint Nextel said provisioning of backhaul was the primary hold-up to the operator's nationwide deployment of mobile WiMAX. Sprint was having difficulty finding high-capacity transport links to connect cell sites as typical T-1 lines that feed today's mobile networks are inefficient for high-speed wireless broadband data.

To find out more:
- read Unstrung

Related stories:
Backhaul, billing causes of Xohm delay
Sprint's backhaul conundrum

Technology-neutral European auctions opportunity for technology companies

Mon, 19 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

European governments have taken an unprecedented move to offer wireless broadband licenses on a technology-neutral basis, and technology companies are taking advantage to foster the proliferation of their technology interests and for a relatively cheap price tag.

Qualcomm last week won U.K.-wide L-band spectrum for $12.9 million, but the company is being vague about its plans for the band, saying it wants to "explore emerging business models and advanced mobile technologies."

Said Andrew Gilbert, an executive VP of Qualcomm: "Acquiring this spectrum will enable us to develop, test and explore a variety of innovative wireless services and technologies that will benefit European consumers and the wireless industry as a whole. The company has a long history of innovation and creating new technology markets."

Earlier this month, Intel Capital was among the winners of Sweden's auction of the 2.6 GHz band, acquiring 50 MHz of TDD spectrum for $26.5 million. Intel is seeking partners to build and operate a WiMAX network. The company plans to rent out the license to partners rather than sell it to grow WiMAX and the market for its Centrino WiMAX-enabled chips.

Of course, Qualcomm has a history of pushing new technologies via license ownership, with mobile TV being the latest. As it was going around evangelizing CDMA in the 1990s, the company bought licenses to begin Leap Wireless to push CDMA. Maybe it wants to prove that Ultra Mobile Broadband, the 4G path for CDMA technology, is a viable one.

It will be interesting to see who bids in the auctions going forward. Might Google make a play for a license and look for someone to run the network so it can guarantee its services on a carrier's network? Will Intel look to win more licenses, and what in the world is Qualcomm doing?--Lynnette

Covad to roll out fixed WiMAX this year

Mon, 19 May 2008 06:59:56 -0400

Covad indicated it will begin rolling out a fixed WiMAX wireless broadband offering this year, with a promise of offering data speeds of 6 Mbs. Covad says its decision to offer the service followed a lab test and field trial in the San Francisco Bay area. Now the carrier will install WiMAX equipment at existing base station locations in the Bay area as well as in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Covad has named Axxcelera as a preferred WiMAX vendor. The carrier says tests of the vendor's gear resulted in a total symmetric bandwidth of 8-plus Mbs at 5-plus miles and registered less than 1-percent packet loss and less than 50ms network latency. Axxcelera's equipment will be part of Covad's "Super-T" product offering for business-grade broadband access.

"Covad has built a profitable, growing wireless broadband business, using pre-WiMAX equipment, in the San Francisco Bay Area, greater Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Chicago," said Covad Wireless General Manager Lee Gopadze. "We see great potential in Axxcelera's WiMAX equipment that will allow us to enhance our existing Internet access services with additional Ethernet-based wireless service features. These features include class-of-service options, enhanced reliability and expanded network capacity. Axxcelera's equipment exceeded our expectations."

In February, Covad agreed to test a WiFi network in San Carlos, Calif., as part of the struggling Silicon Valley Network, that ambitious WiFi initiative that aims to blanket 1,500 sq. miles with WiFi.

To find out more about Covad's WiMAX plans:
- check out this article from TelecomWeb

What will Qualcomm do with the U.K. spectrum it won?

Mon, 19 May 2008 06:59:53 -0400

Having won the auction for the U.K.-wide L-band spectrum auction, Qualcomm has been reluctant to define what it might be used for other than to "explore emerging business models and advanced mobile technologies."

Qualcomm spent $12.9 million to win the spectrum right to the 1452 MHz to 1492 MHz band, and competing against seven other hopefuls, Qualcomm claims the license is suitable for offering mobile television, wireless broadband and satellite radio. The spectrum has been released on a technology and service neutral basis, leaving Qualcomm and its partners free to decide what to do next. The frequency band is also available as of now.

Andrew Gilbert, an executive VP of Qualcomm, said: "Acquiring this spectrum will enable us to develop, test and explore a variety of innovative wireless services and technologies that will benefit European consumers and the wireless industry as a whole. The company has a long history of innovation and creating new technology markets."

For more on this story:
-read CNNmoney

Is Google satisfied with its new wireless broadband venture?

Mon, 12 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Google finally got what it wanted--access to a broadband network to realize its dream of transferring it dominance in online advertising into the wireless broadband world. By making a sizable investment in the new Clearwire--a deal that also includes Sprint, three cable operators and Intel--Google becomes the default search engine for the new WiMAX operator and guarantees a home for the Android platform all without having to sink billions in building out its own network.

Cracking the wireless broadband market has actually taken a few years for Google. Google had big hopes in 2005 and 2006 that muni-WiFi was going to be the wireless broadband opportunity it was looking for. Pundits had speculated Google was poised to blanket the U.S. with free WiFi in order to become one of the globe's largest Internet providers and one of the powerful ad sellers. That strategy didn't pan out as the muni-WiFi market hit a shakeout.

Then the 700 MHz auction came along, and Google lobbied heavily for open access and plunked down the minimum required to trigger the open access provision. Though the search giant got what it wanted, that still didn't guarantee Google would become a dominant force.

Lately the company has been pushing heavily for unlicensed white-space spectrum, and while it appears the FCC likes the idea, there is significant opposition due to fears of interference, which could significantly draw out the process.

The question now is, is Google happy with what it got or will it continue to find more ways to transfer its services in the wireless world?--Lynnette

Sprint's backhaul conundrum

Mon, 05 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Last month Sprint Nextel said provisioning of backhaul is the primary hold-up to the operator's nationwide deployment of mobile WiMAX. Sprint, which was supposed to launch its Xohm network in April, is having difficulty finding high-capacity transport links to connect cell sites as typical T-1 lines that feed today's mobile networks are inefficient for high-speed wireless broadband data.

The problem is that the majority of Sprint's sites today are T-1 lines, and there just isn't a lot of fiber and microwave options available across the country. The link between the local area network and local fiber ring is still challenged by older technology and poor coverage, offering limited access to high-capacity connections. The use of microwave is still limited to operators' highest density sites as they have traditionally rolled it out on as-needed basis.

Most experts believed that Sprint was going to initially start out with T-1s for backhaul of the WiMAX network since it was readily available, eventually migrating to backhaul technology capable of dealing with high-speed broadband data. Perhaps Sprint decided the quality of WiMAX was at stake, and now it finds itself scrambling for alternatives. Suppliers are short in this area because they haven't seen the demand coming from operators and because T-1 lines are a highly lucrative business.

With AT&T and Verizon rolling out Long Term Evolution in two years, we'll begin seeing a big demand T-1 alternatives, although these two landline companies can leverage the much of the fiber networks they have. The dark horse is cable. With a deep penetration of fiber, they could be powerful partner for a company like Sprint, but have yet to make any significant moves in the area.

The next few years should see an explosion in alternative backhaul technology providers, making the traditionally boring business quite interesting--Lynnette

White-space broadband gets more and more complicated

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Google, Microsoft and other companies advocating the use of unlicensed white-space spectrum for wireless broadband had to have believed earlier this year that the FCC was going to rubber-stamp the process with relative ease. After all, the commission itself wants to see white-space spectrum.

But now opposition is mounting and the FCC still hasn't gotten over that pesky interference problem. In 2007, the FCC's Office of Engineering and Technology found through preliminary trials of the prototypes that "the transmitter in the prototype device is capable of causing interference to TV broadcasting and wireless microphones." Testing continues and hasn't put these devices in the clear.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) is waging a bitter fight against white-white space spectrum, fearing interference with the industry's television signals. CTIA now wants white-space spectrum licensed. And more recently, (see story no. 2) hospital technology groups and vendors in the sector are urging the FCC to be careful about allowing unlicensed white-space devices because some of the channels could cause interference with medical devices.

And it won't be long until other groups come forward concerned about the interference problem with wireless microphones. Interestingly, country western artists that include Rascal Flatts, LeAnn Rimes and Martina McBride have mentioned their concern about how interference with their wireless microphones would affect their live concerts, noted Shure Inc., which provides wireless microphone systems. We will likely see some powerful opposition from other members of the music and entertainment industry and those that have a heavily reliance on wireless microphones.

All of this means the FCC has to take a long and thoughtful approach to how it might allow unlicensed white-spectrum devices. Much to the chagrin of Google, we won't likely see any approval this year or even early next year. While the commission was hoping white spaces would provide another avenue to offer more broadband competition, the issues surrounding the spectrum seems to get more complicated by the day. Any move without significant and thorough testing could prove to be disastrous.--Lynnette

P.S. Every year FierceWireless editors evaluate hundreds of the most innovative and smart emerging companies in the wireless industry. Check out our final selection--the top 15--in FierceWireless' annual Fierce 15 list. See it here!

Time Warner CEO says wireless broadband 'interesting'

Thu, 01 May 2008 06:59:53 -0400

Time Warner, which recently ended its relationship with Sprint Nextel for the Pivot wireless offering that gave the cable operator a quadruple play, gave some nebulous information regarding the company's interest in wireless during the company's first-quarter conference call. Time Warner CEO Glenn Britt noted that Time Warner's wireless strategy "really hasn't changed for some time now. We haven't seen a big demand for the quadruple play to date. More interesting to me is the notion of broadband wireless … and how that might relate to wireline networks."

That doesn't tell us much about the possibility of Time Warner forming a relationship with other cable operators to make a WiMAX consortium with Sprint Nextel. A rumor that hasn't resurfaced lately. Also, Time Warner, Comcast, Cox Communications and Advance Newhouse own AWS spectrum but continue to be coy about how they are going to use it.

For more about Time Warner's wireless broadband comments:
- read this article from Unstrung

Backhaul, billing causes of Xohm delay

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:59:57 -0400

Sprint Nextel says provisioning of backhaul is the primary hold-up to the operator's nationwide deployment of mobile WiMAX. Sprint, which was supposed to launch its Xohm network this month, is having difficulty finding high-capacity transport links to connect cell sites as typical T-1 lines that feed today's mobile networks are inefficient for high-speed wireless broadband data, said Xohm President and Sprint Chief Technology Officer Barry West in an interview with Telephony.

To build the network, Sprint is provisioning fiber where economically feasible, West said. In other areas, Sprint is using microwave. The entire process has moved slower than what Sprint expected, causing the delay of the commercial launch.

"Clearly I wanted to hit the April date," West said. "Having missed that date, I want to make sure we come out with a robust service. Right now I'm building sites."

Billing and customer provisioning have also caused delays, but only by a matter of weeks, West said.

To read more about Sprint's Xohm delays:
- check out this article from Telephony

Related articles:
Sprint's CTO attacks LTE
Sprint's Xohm has been delayed Report on Xohm's delay
Sprint: Xohm will be a platform for innovation Report on Xohm

The Battle for Control of 4G Business

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 11:14:19 -0400

by Robert Syputa and Adlane Fellah

Headlines often pit WiMAX and 3G-LTE against each other, yet the stories often describe only the differences in technology and commercial development while glossing over the fundamental changes that are taking place. Specifically, WiMAX represents a new and different approach to technology development and go-to-market strategy. In this regard, WiMAX and 3G-LTE could not be more different.

Two Visions Formed by Incumbency

The public perception of wireless has been heavily influenced by the industry's greatest success: mobile phones and Wi-Fi broadband. This has led to the perception of WiMAX as 'Wi-Fi on Steroids' or as a challenger to small cell phone mobility. WiMAX, like any other new technology, must distance itself from what has come before. To cross the chasm, it is necessary to look ahead-not behind.

WiMAX is helping to create and accelerate a new paradigm for the wireless broadband experience. For instance:

· There will be a shift to 'broadband wireless everywhere.' This means not just on your cell phone but on any device wherever users need to be connected to a service provider that finds it feasible to offer service.

· Multiple devices will be activated on a single account. This is an important difference from common 3G voice and data service.

· The same software and communications methods used in corporate networks, personal PCs and the Internet will leverage the same resources and creativity that has led to the rapid proliferation of the Internet and innovative web enterprises out into the mobile sphere.

· There will be creative developers who will compete to provide innovations.

· There will be a shift in the way IPR (intellectual property rights) is regimented, including lower and more streamlined royalties. This is necessary for the role web, software, consumer electronics and PC/networking industries will take in the unified field of communications.

· Wireless needs headroom to develop. Wireless systems will become the jack-of-all-trades to handle multiple types of applications and scale of deployments.

WiMAX developed as an alternative to DSL and cable but has since evolved to become a universal communications system that focuses more broadly than current mobile services to embrace networking and consumer applications.

Over time, convergence will allow subscribers to use both WiMAX and LTE networks that are knit seamlessly together through multi-mode chip enabled devices and greater commonality in network designs. What is likely to persist as a difference between WiMAX and LTE is the fact that WiMAX will be driven by new open business methods.

WiMAX has leverage despite low number of subscribers

According to the latest statistics from our WiMAXcounts™ service[1], there were 1.7 million broadband wireless/WiMAX subscribers. Over 800,000 subscribers were using WiMAX Forum Certified technology at year-end 2007. WiMAX is still small in terms of subscribers but has considerable capital, ecosystem and development momentum to propel it forward. Because it represents a universal open approach to wireless, its influence goes beyond the number of subscribers as it compels 3G to accept new modes of network design and business operation.

Whether it is LTE or WiMAX, the success of mobile broadband will be driven by the development of user-friendly applications and affordable handsets. While high demand business users will fuel the concept of personal broadband for productivity, the mobile consumer market will represent the lion's share of mobile data services in the long term. End-users are no longer just consumers of media applications, they are also becoming producers of content such as photos, videos, music, and additional formats sent wirelessly.

Source: WiMAX, LTE and Broadband Wireless (Sub-11GHz) Worldwide Market Trends 2008-2014 - 5th Edition

Demand from active WiMAX subscribers is more linear as it is linked to the build-up of WiMAX networks. The supply of WiMAX embedded devices is a function of the CAPEX investments made by operators such as Sprint. The two will continue to evolve in a less correlated manner for some time to come, that is until the market and technology matures beyond 2020.

Adlane Fellah is the CEO and co-founder of Maravedis, a 4G analyst research firm. Co-author Robert Syputa is a partner and senior analyst with the company.

[1] Source: www.wimaxcounts.com

Is the MSS industry on its way to a comeback?

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 06:59:58 -0400

Is the mobile satellite service (MSS) on its way to a comeback? And will WiMAX or other mobile broadband technologies play a pivotal role in their business models?

Most of us know the crash-and-burn history of the MSS industry in the late 1990s. Iridium and others ran to bankruptcy courts, suffering from high operating costs. Now, at least three companies are working to make MSS a consumer product in the next two years and most are looking to the mobile broadband industry as a significant part of their businesses. ICO Global Communications announced plans during the CTIA trade show earlier this month to deploy a GEO satellite today that will deliver a satellite-hybrid terrestrial network using mobile TV technology DVB-SH. After the satellite is launched, the company plans to begin market trials in Las Vegas and Raleigh-Durham in mid-2008 of what it calls ICO MIM, Mobile Interactive Media.

The trials will focus on three areas: entertainment using DVB-SH for mobile TV services, guidance services that will include real-time traffic data and social networking applications and assistance services, which will offer OnStar-like roadside services. Moreover, WiMAX operator Clearwire plans to join the trial, bringing wireless broadband to the mix. Last fall, Clearwire announced a joint agreement with ICO. Craig McCaw, who founded Clearwire, owns a 75 percent voting interest in ICO.

Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV), which already offer satellite telephony service to niche markets, is planning on launching two new high-power satellites capable of high-speed data and featuring smaller, sleeker and cheaper devices--one of the shortfalls of the old satellite telephony model. The difference this time around will be a system capable of superior link margin, full redundancy and capacity no terrestrial operator can match, said Wade Alt, vice president of corporate development with MSV. And of course ubiquity will be a key differentiator when the operator plans to launch service in 2010.

"We've done market studies and both consumer segments and the enterprise customers want this feature and are willing to pay for it," Alt said. "They like the ubiquity, and from consumer standpoint, it's brand new market out there."

There are a host of markets MSV is targeting: government, enterprise, telematics and mass consumer. One of the keys to being able to cast a wide net is hybrid technology. "It was important for MSV to prove we could integrate with existing chip sets. Satellite on its own was not enough. You can't have people walking around with clunky devices."

Another key factor was obtaining approval from the FCC to deploy an ancillary terrestrial component (ATC) that is designed to solve a fundamental problem plaguing the MSS industry: operators' inability to penetrate buildings with satellite signals. That technical shortfall has had a tremendous constraint on demand and resulted in higher operating and equipment costs in the past.

MSV doesn't have a terrestrial partner but Alt says the company is looking for a partner whether that's a WiMAX or LTE operator partner. It remains to be seen if these operators will see MSV as a competitor rather than a partner, but such a hook-up could could create a differentiator for a 4G operator by enabling it to offer ubiquitous services.

Finally, Satellite Terrestar Networks, formerly known as Motient, announced back in November plans to build what it calls a 4G all-IP integrated satellite/terrestrial network in North America. The company says it will offer a wholesale business model with priority access for first responders and allow other wireless carriers, third party developers and portal companies to use its 4G network. TerreStar plans to roll-out its network in late 2008 or early 2009.

For sure, these plans come with risk with unproven business models and commercially unproven technology. Couple that with the unknowns surrounding full MSS/ATC integration and nascent 4G technology, and you have the potential for a lot of trial and error or another crash and burn of the MSS industry. But if these companies pull their plans off, we could see quite an industry game-changer that will see mobile broadband as the center point.--Lynnette

Xanadoo to offer prepaid WiMAX

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:59:55 -0400

Cisco customer 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. Cisco purchased WiMAX vendor Navini in December.

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. The ISP offers seven different pricing plans beginning at $15 per month with plans to soon launch a prepaid wireless broadband offering. This large number of pricing plans is how Xanadoo is differentiating itself from DSL and cable, which typically only offer two different plans and require bundling of services. "There are niche markets where prepaid appeals to consumers," Marshall Pagon, chairman and CEO of Xanadoo said during an interview with FierceBroadbandWireless.

"There are the credit challenged but lots of professionals and contractors that are out of the office that don't need a contract. The resources they use are web-based. Students as well as military people are also attracted to such offerings." Xanadoo covers about 8 million pops in Texas, Arkansas, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and West Virginia. The operator also holds 700 MHz spectrum covering nearly 156 million pops in some major markets.

Related articles:
- Cisco buys WiMAX vendor Navini for $330M Report

ICO to deliver DVB-SH services soon via satellite

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 07:59:53 -0400

Satellite company ICO Global Communications announced plans to deploy a GEO satellite on April 14 that will deliver a satellite-hybrid terrestrial network using mobile TV technology DVB-SH.

After the satellite is launched, the company plans to begin market trials in Las Vegas and Raleigh-Durham in mid-2008 of what it calls ICO MIM, Mobile Interactive Media. The trials will focus on three areas: entertainment using DVB-SH for mobile TV services, guidance services that will include real-time traffic data and social networking applications and assistance services, which will offer OnStar-like roadside services.

Initially, the service will consist of a "set-top box in the trunk" to deliver these services, said Tim Bryan, CEO of ICO during an Alcatel-Lucent press briefing here at CTIA. Later, the company plans to offer dockable portable mobile and OEM-installed devices. Direct delivery to handhelds is possible in the future.

Partners in the trial include Alcatel-Lucent, which is providing the DVB-SH technology, Hughes and WiMAX operator Clearwire, which adds a wireless broadband offering to the mix. Last fall, Clearwire announced a joint agreement with ICO. Craig McCaw, who founded Clearwire, owns a 75-percent voting interest in ICO.

Related articles:
Can WiMAX be a boon to the MSS industry? Editorial
Clearwire, ICO collaborate on mobile video Report

Motorola intros platform to support both WiMAX, LTE

Mon, 31 Mar 2008 07:59:57 -0400

Motorola introduced a common wireless broadband platform capable of supporting both mobile WiMAX access points and the Long Term Evolution (LTE) evolved Node-B. Motorola says the design should reduce operators' deployment and operating costs. With Motorola's flexible modem technology, common platform can support either WiMAX or LTE by being software configurable.

Fred Wright, senior vice president, Motorola Home & Networks Mobility, said in a press release: "We're building upon our OFDM expertise and early success in WiMAX 802.16e as we develop our LTE product solutions. We can reuse about 75 percent of the basic application software and platform technology we developed for WiMAX in our LTE products, thereby advancing our development efforts. For example, the new common wireless broadband platform is expected to be commercially deployed in WiMAX networks in 2008, followed by the LTE application available by late 2009, giving us the advantage of deploying LTE technology on a field proven platform."

To find out more about Motorola's new platform:
- check out this article from TMCnet

Related articles:
- On the Hot Seat with WiMAX Forum's Ron Resnick Report
- Vodafone CEO: WiMAX has a home in LTE Report

Forecasting wireless broadband is a complex proposition

Thu, 20 Mar 2008 07:59:58 -0400

I've had a few conversations now that center around the difficulties in projecting market growth for OFDMA-based mobile broadband systems, namely WiMAX and LTE (Long Term Evolution). It's no cut-and-dry prospect.

Ron Resnick, president of the WiMAX Forum, recently voiced his concern to me over analyst projections that forecast the market for one flavor of OFDMA as being bigger than another. "How are they getting there, because there are so many variables?" he lamented. That's why the WiMAX Forum plans to release a commissioned report soon, taking into account a number of variables.

What are they? In the mobile voice world, projections are relatively easy to make as most operators have deployed similar voice networks with similar coverage. But the mobile broadband world will be defined by the fact that not every operator will deploy their networks in the same way. Some will deploy fixed networks, others nomadic and still others fully mobile. What type of deployment an operator chooses has a bearing on capex, how many subscribers it will attract and what its return on investment could be. Frequency bands certainly play an important role given the fact that an OFDMA network would require more cell sites at 3.5 GHz than 700 MHz. Moreover, what sort of business plan are mobile broadband operators embarking on? A simple access model? VoIP services, mobile TV? How much spectrum does an operator have? Then there are technical considerations such as MIMO and smart antennas. The list goes on.

Michael Thelander, head of Signals Research, and a crew of experts have spent 15 months tackling these variables. His firm has released a new economic study evaluating mobile broadband. Rather than predicting any technology winners or subscribers, the firm plugged these different variables I mentioned to come up with economic feasibility of deploying OFDMA-based systems. Signals Research studied wireless broadband across 65 countries, eight frequency bands and the various flavors of OFDMA. The firm then plugged in different variables, such as nomadic vs. fully mobile deployments, to determine an operator's network economics.

For example, if an operator deployed a truly mobile broadband wireless network that is capable of deep in-building penetration to a handheld device at 2.5 GHz, covering the top 70 percent of the population would require about 11 times more coverage of cell sites than a network that was designed to provide semi-fixed coverage and nearly 20 times more coverage cell sites than a network that was designed to provide fixed wireless services, Thelander said.

Of course, just because it's cheaper to deploy a fixed network, doesn't mean every market can support one. The North American market has a limited market for fixed or semi-fixed networks, while a market like India, with low broadband penetration, could easily find success from such deployment scenarios.

"Given our analysis of existing telecom demand, combined with these metrics and their underlying economic implications, operators in developing markets may be better off initially designing their networks for nomadic or semi-fixed services and then grow into higher degrees of mobility as subscriber uptake increases and they begin to add new cell sites for capacity purposes," Thelander said.

The bottom line is the greater the risk, the greater the return. Operators taking the most risk are those deploying a fully mobile WiMAX network, such as Sprint, because the industry has yet to see a dramatic swing in mobile broadband subscriber uptake and usage patterns. "There has to be something that drives a lot of data," Thelander said.

"One could argue that with the introduction of a new broadband wireless network that all of a sudden there will be a dramatic swing in subscriber uptake and usage patterns," Thelander said. "We don't disagree, but if we use the demand that exists today in these countries, or even multiples of what exists today, as the frame of reference for predicting future adoption on these new networks, then fully mobile networks would be largely under-utilized and, as a result, network economics would suffer."

Clearly, the mobile broadband world has become inherently more complex.--Lynnette

Should operators subsidize laptops?

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:59:55 -0400

A recent report from Pyramid Research indicates that wireless carriers that sell laptops in their stores may help improve uptake of their wireless broadband services. According to the report, Russia's MTS, Telefonica's O2, T-Mobile, Orange, Vodafone Globul and PLDT all sell laptops in some of their markets. BusinessWeek suggests that carriers should even subsidize laptops in order to drive demand for their data networks.

Could the trend take off in the U.S.? Verizon Wireless, for one, says it has no intention of subsidizing laptops, according to a company spokeswoman. The company's BroadbandAccess service is embedded in notebooks from the likes of Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba and Panasonic, and customers can click on the VZAccess manager to subscribe to service. The operator also offers daily use packages at $15 for 24 hours.

For more on the trend:
- read this BusinessWeek article

Hesse: Sprint still talking to Clearwire about tie-up

Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:59:57 -0500

During the company's dismal fourth-quarter earnings call on Friday, Sprint Nextel CEO Dan Hesse said some sort of partnership with Clearwire may still come to fruition.

"We have had wide ranging discussions with Clearwire on potential relationships but no final agreements have been reached," Hesse said during the call.

Although Hesse said he'd talk more about Sprint's WiMAX plans at a later date, he did say the company's soft launches at the end of last year in Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Chicago offered "confidence in the performance of the technology." He also noted that while Sprint's core business is management's top priority, Sprint has an "enormous asset--nearly 100 MHz of un-utilized spectrum--and the opportunity to have a three-year head start with our Xohm service, true wireless broadband with multi-megabit speed." He also said the company later this year plans to introduce dual-mode CDMA/WiMAX devices.

For more about Hesse's WiMAX comments:
- read the company's fourth-quarter transcript on Seeking Alpha

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