Intel and iBurst in WiMax agreement

Rudolph Muller

Rudolph Muller is the editor at MyBroadband and covers telecoms and broadband news. Rudolph comes from an academic background, but left the University of...

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The aim of this agreement is to establish a strategic and exclusive partnership between WBS and Intel to deploy wireless broadband access for customers, both businesses and consumers, using WiMAX enabled devices and to foster the adoption of WiMAX products and services in South Africa.

In terms of the agreement, Intel will provide embedded WiMAX devices that will act as a virtual service provider for WBS solutions and services provided through iBurst. WBS is the holder of a Commercial WiMAX Spectrum License and last year formed a strategic partnership with Intel.

“Research has shown that broadband access has a direct impact on economic growth,” says Lil Mohan, managing director of Intel’s WiMAX programme for EMEA, META and sub-Saharan Africa. “This alignment with WBS will drive the uptake of WiMAX in sub-Saharan Africa and in essence it takes us one step closer to pervasive broadband,” he says.

According to the two companies this partnership has created the opportunity for both businesses and consumers to benefit from the broadband boom as WiMAX can be rolled-out quickly and allow those in the remote areas to benefit from broadband access.  “This partnership will also increase competition which will ultimately give the end user more choice and better pricing.”

“Today represents a milestone in the history of the Internet in South Africa and it’s also a great achievement for WBS and iBurst to partner with a global technology leader like Intel. Hardware partnerships like these are the key to exponential Internet growth in Africa,” said Alan Knott-Craig, managing director of iBurst.

“WBS & iBurst are committed to increasing Internet penetration and improving Internet services in this country. We are confident that bundling hardware and access technologies such as WiMAX is the way to get more South Africans online,” he added.

Although the agreement has been signed, the network and WiMAX enabled laptops will only be available in early 2010.   However, the initial testing phase has been completed with very positive results.  “Once these devices are available, the end user will essentially have access to wireless ADSL as well as the added benefit of quality of service management,” says Mohan.

Intel and iBurst WiMax deal – give your views