Clearwire Turns to Cisco for IP Core, WiMAX Devices
By Sue Marek
Clearwire said today it will partner with networking giant Cisco Systems. Cisco will provide Clearwire's IP core infrastructure, develop new mobile WiMAX devices and offer the WiMAX operator access to Cisco's extensive network of channel partners in which to sell Clearwire services to small businesses and enterprises.
During a call with the press this morning, neither Clearwire nor Cisco would disclose the financial terms of this alliance, nor would they say whether Cisco has invested in Clearwire. Google, Intel, Time Warner and others have invested billions in Clearwire, but recently have been forced to write down those investments.
The WiMAX devices from Cisco will be available later this year and will include Linksys by Cisco routers. Saraj Shetty, vice president of worldwide service provider marketing for Cisco, would not specify what other types of mobile WiMAX devices the company is considering.
On the infrastructure side, Clearwire said that Cisco will be its national IP next-gen network core infrastructure provider. Clearwire is currently in the process of testing and certifying Cisco's IP NGN architecture, which includes Cisco 7600 series Internet routers, Cisco ONS 15454 and Cisco ONS 15310 platforms, Cisco firewalls and other elements.
Scott Richardson, senior vice president and chief strategy officer for Clearwire, praised the alliance and said that Clearwire will be able to leverage Cisco's channel partners, which will give the WiMAX provider leverage with SoHo and enterprise customers. [FierceBroadbandWireless]
Comcast Interactive Capital Invests in Mobile Broadband Firm
By Sue Marek
Comcast is making more inroads in mobile broadband. The cable firm made a seed-round investment in Littleton, Mass.-based startup Cartiza Networks, which is developing an IP-based content management and delivery system for mobile broadband networks.
Cartiza raised $12.6 million in venture capital funding in 2007 and its investors include Comcast Interactive Capital, Prism VentureWorks and the Business Development Bank of Canada. The company reportedly is in "stealth" mode and has not publicly discussed its technology or strategy. However, the firm is a member of the WiMAX Forum.
The investment is interesting considering Comcast's other mobile broadband plays--most notably its investment in the new Clearwire. In May, Sprint and Clearwire announced that they will combine their WiMAX businesses and create a new company, called Clearwire, that will include a $3.2 billion investment from Intel, Google, Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks and Trilogy Equity Partners. [FierceWireless]
NextWave Teams With Taiwan Carrier for WiMAX TV
Taiwanese WiMAX operator Global Mobile Corp. and NextWave Wireless announced a joint technology agreement to make end-to-end mobile WiMAX solutions.
The two plan to set up a WiMAX field trial and demonstration network to leverage the solutions, which will include mobile TV powered by NextWave's MXtv technology. The trial network will be deployed in Taipei. As part of the field trial, Global Mobile will deploy an end-to-end system of NextWave's new V5 base transceiver station and ASN gateway platform.
NextWave introduced MXtv in March. The company says the technology will enable operators to deliver a range of multimedia services, including mobile TV, interactive media and digital audio without having to invest in new spectrum or extra radio access network equipment. MXtv is a similar proposition to NextWave's UMTS MBMS-based TDtv.
Gartner: India to Remain Niche Market for WiMAX
Research firm Gartner predicted that India will remain a niche market for WiMAX until 2009, despite the fact that the Indian government is advocating the technology for broadband connectivity in rural areas. Gartner predicts that the country will have just 6.9 million mobile and fixed WiMAX connections by the end of 2011.
The reason: "Although presented as an important driver for broadband policy in India, the Indian government has failed to effectively motivate operators to roll out country-wide mobile broadband. WiMAX has been selected by the Indian government to connect rural areas to the Internet.
However, low PC penetration will lead to limited demand in the near term. WiMax is still a niche technology and limited to enterprise and high-end residential users in urban India," according to the firm.
India had only 3.4 million broadband subscribers in January 2008, less than the target of 9 million by 2007 set by the country's broadband policy, said Naresh Singh, principal research analyst with Gartner. Mobile frequencies will not be available in the short term, so most WiMax connections in the short- and mid-term will be for nomadic or fixed-wireless applications. [FierceBroadbandWireless]
More Than 90 Million 4G Subscribers Worldwide in 2013
The total number of 4G subscribers worldwide, including both LTE and WiMAX, is expected to exceed 90 million in 2013, but a number of milestones must be passed en route, according to a new forecast from ABI Research. At the end of 4Q 2007, says the firm, there were nearly 3.4 billion mobile subscribers worldwide, with 2.7 billion on GSM/EDGE/GPRS networks.
Worldwide WCDMA subscriber numbers hit 180 million in 4Q 2007. ABI Research expects migration to HSPA+ to begin in early 2010, and migration to LTE will commence by the middle of the same year. Vice president Asia-Pacific Jake Saunders comments, “We forecast the total number of WCDMA subscribers (including HSPA) to approach 720 million in 2013.”
Research analyst Hwai Lin Khor adds, “Some operators may not be ready to move on to LTE, as the peak data rates of 100 Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink are achievable only with a 20 MHz spectrum band. That is a luxury that most operators may not have, and many may be content with the capabilities of HSPA+ or settle for suboptimal LTE data rates with whatever they have at the time.”
Intel Investing $2B in Sprint/Clearwire
Rumors are circulating once again that Sprint Nextel will spin off its Xohm WiMAX broadband unit and form a joint venture with Clearwire. The Street.com is reporting that the deal between the two firms will include a $2 billion investment from Intel Capital.
If this rumored deal actually goes through, it will give a much-needed vote of confidence to WiMAX. Many companies at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona said much of WiMAX's future was resting on Sprint's Xohm business. Without Xohm, mobile WiMAX may not be anything other than a niche play.
Find out the latest on Xohm at the FierceWireless co-located event "4G and Beyond" on April 2 at CTIA Wireless 2008. Barry West, CTO of Sprint and head of the Xohm unit will be a keynote speaker and will provide a status update on Xohm. Here's a link to the agenda.
The two companies revived deal talks, according to press reports, after Sprint tore up a prior agreement in November. That earlier plan had called for Sprint to chip in $2.75 billion toward the expansion of WiMax networks to 19 cities by the end of this year, but the company pulled out of that pact in an effort to undo the work of former CEO Gary Forsee
Among the top priorities for new CEO Dan Hesse has been deciding the fate of Sprint's costly WiMax effort. Sprint, under Forsee, essentially pinned the company's future on the promising mobile wireless broadband technology.
But the $5 billion price tag estimated for the company to build a WiMax network on its own was too much for Sprint as it grapples with the ramifications of its failed merger with Nextel. [FierceWireless/Street.com]
Clearwire Makes Deal With Google for WiMAX Apps
In a deal that echoes a move by one-time WiMAX partner Sprint, Clearwire has tapped Google to provide the company's Apps suite to its subscribers. The suite includes Gmail, Google Calendar and Google Talk, and the deal also sees Clearwire leveraging Google's AdSense for Search on future portal applications.
"Clearwire is excited to launch our relationship with Google to further our commitment to deliver all the Internet has to offer to a person rather than a place. Both companies are built on the foundation of providing a simple to use, rich and open Internet experience and we believe the addition of these communications tools will be a tremendous benefit to Clearwire's customers", said Scott Richardson Clearwire's chief strategy officer. "We look forward to expanding our working relationship with Google further enhancing our customer's access to the Internet – anytime and anywhere."
"We're pleased to work with Clearwire to offer its high-speed wireless broadband customers access to our leading search and communications tools," said Dave Girouard, vice president and general manager Google Enterprise. "Our companies share a vision of giving consumers innovative choices that will the change the way they interact with each other."
Clearwire is building and operating one of the world's most capable wireless broadband networks. The company is building from the ground up a single network that bridges the gap between today's wire line and wireless networks by delivering a true broadband experience to a person rather than a place.
By collaborating with world-class companies like Google that are committed to innovation, Clearwire and its customers will enjoy all that the Internet has to offer at home as well as in a mobile environment within the Clearwire coverage area. [FierceWireless]
Singapore Claims a First With WiMax-ready Seaport
Singapore will spend S$12 million to make its seaport WiMax ready and allow ships to access broadband communications and services offshore, it was announced at the opening of the 2nd International Maritime Port Technology and Development Conference (MTEC 2007) on Wednesday.
Known as the Infocomm@SeaPort programme, it will provide access to mobile wireless broadband, allowing real-time and data-intensive communications between the ships and their customers and business partners. Singapore expects its seaport to be the first WiMax-ready port when the service opens in 2008.
Raymond Lim, Minister of Transport and Second Minister for Foreign Affairs, said at the opening of MTEC that thanks to "WISEPORT" (WIreless-broadband-access for SEaPort), activities that could only be done onshore previously can now be achieved offshore as well, from regulatory filings, to broadband communications, to real-time access to navigational data. WISEPORT is one of the initial projects under the Infocomm@SeaPort programme, which aims to provide a mobile wireless broadband network within 15km from Singapore's southern coastline.
The Infocomm@SeaPort programme is a collaboration between the Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) and the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA). The two agencies said the project aims to catalyse business transformation and operational excellence in the port community through the use of innovative infocomm technologies.
Later this year, MPA and IDA will jointly initiate a Call-for-collaboration (CFC) to develop new WISEPORT content and software applications for the seaport community. They said these content and applications could range from messaging services that allow ships to communicate more cost-effectively with other parties, to applications that allow ships to book maritime services through the high-speed network.
Chan Yeng Kit, IDA's CEO, noted that the Infocomm@SeaPort programme was an integral part of IDA's iN2015 masterplan to enhance the economic competitiveness of Singapore through the use of infocomm. [Broadband Communities]
Motorola, Texas Instruments to develop 3G-WiMAX handsets
Texas Instruments and Motorola will jointly develop 3G and WiMAX handsets, using TI silicon. The new low-cost multimedia mobile devices will likely ship in 2008. TI will develop a chipset to Motorola specifications, which will include TI solutions. TI will also make the chip in its own fabrication plants and is providing a similar customized solution for Motorola's 3G chips.
Telephony Magazine notes that although Motorola did not designate TI as the exclusive provider of the WiMAX chipset, its decision does raise questions about how much larger a part in the WiMAX ecosystem Intel is playing in Sprint's planned Mobile WiMAX network. Sprint named Intel as one of its partners in the nation-wide WiMAX network it is building. Other partners include Samsung, which is developing its own WiMAX silicon, and Nokia. Nokia has not yet revealed its silicon supplier, but the company has had a long relationship with TI.
Sprint Nextel said it would spend $3 billion to build an entire Web-based phone network in the U.S. dedicated to Mobile WiMAX.
Source: FierceWiFi. For more on the Motorola-TI deal, see this Motorola press release
2016: The end of the mobile as we know it?
How the personal hub could kill the radio star...
By Jo Best
According to HP, the future of cell phones won't be cellular. The devices will do without 3G, 2G - any other kind of G, in fact - and they won't be packing WiMax or wi-fi either.
Instead, HP predicts, the mobile will become just one of a number of gadgets in your personal area network that will get its connectivity via your watch, or a magic box in your pocket, probably using Ultrawideband (UWB) wireless technology.
Phil McKinney, CTO of HP's personal systems group, predicts that in future hardware manufacturers will stop cramming devices with all manner of radios.
Stripping out the connectivity will boost the rate at which consumers update their gadgets. Instead they will have all the gadgets connect by UWB to one stand-alone radio-stuffed hub device, which will then provide whichever type of wireless communications the other gadgets need.
McKinney said: "A year ago I sat down with a team in HP and said what will the future be like? More powerful, more memory, more radios... It will get complex for the users, insanely complex to design."
The team came up with the idea of ditching the radios inside the devices. Currently digital gadgets such as mobile phones, laptops and digital cameras can contain many different radios for their communication needs.
HP's idea is to take the radios that would have previously sat inside each device and house them instead in a 'personal hub', which the users will carry with them every day.
The personal hub will be able to detect the appropriate wireless for each device and hand over between them if needs be.
Read more
Nokia Marks WiMAX Milestone
Nokia today announced the Nokia Flexi WiMAX Base Station, an innovation that will revolutionize the way broadband wireless networks will be built while minimizing operating and capital expenditures for broadband wireless operators. The introduction of the Nokia Flexi WiMAX Base Station shows Nokia's engagement in mobile WiMAX and is rooted in the company's global expertise in wireless network deployments.
Operators will benefit from the small and modular design of the Nokia Flexi WiMAX Base Station, which can optimize the costs of siting and operating WiMAX infrastructure. The compact size and light weight design of the base station modules minimizes the space needed, power consumption, and physical effort to install and run high quality WiMAX networks, and uses existing or new base station sites efficiently. It can be installed both indoors and outdoors and does not require air conditioning. Furthermore, its modularity will allow for easy capacity upgrades as traffic increases.
The Nokia Flexi WiMAX Base Station will be commercially available for the 2.5 GHz band at the end of 2007 and for 3.5 GHz in 1Q 2008. WiMAX-capable Nokia mobile devices are expected to be available in 2008.
"As the world is going wireless we believe the Nokia Flexi WiMAX Base Station offers broadband operators an easy and trusted way to offer wireless Internet connectivity to their customers anytime, anywhere," says Ari Lehtoranta, Senior Vice President, Radio Networks, Nokia. "Nokia is a strong believer in having a multiradio strategy that gives operators a future-proof solution and the flexibility to choose different technologies as they evolve."
The Nokia Flexi WiMAX Base Station is part of Nokia's overall mobile WiMAX solution, which complements its current solutions to operators in cellular radio access technologies. Nokia's WiMAX solution includes unique end-to-end infrastructure capabilities with radio and core network solutions along with a comprehensive services business solutions portfolio.
Nokia Services include fluent processes for planning, building, optimizing, maintaining networks, integrating end-user services to the network as well as taking on greater responsibilities for service delivery through managed service operations. Nokia's mobile WiMAX solution is designed to work seamlessly with Nokia Unified Core Networks and IP Multimedia Subsystem.
Nokia is a founding and active member of the WiMAX Forum and the standardization process for the mobile WiMAX standard IEEE 802.16e-2005
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