Intel's WiMAX chip could jump-start industry

rpm

rpm

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http://rcrnews.com/news.cms?newsId=22269

Chipmaker Intel Corp. announced its first WiMAX product, a move that could push the WiMAX industry similar to how Intel's Centrino products advanced the Wi-Fi market.
"As a standards-based, high-speed Internet access solution, WiMAX can provide the platform for the next generation of Internet expansion, connecting the next billion Internet users," said Scott Richardson, general manager of Intel's Broadband Wireless Division. "In addition to delivering the first flexible, highly integrated WiMAX system-on-chip, Intel has worked with a number of parties, including carriers and equipment manufacturers, to prepare the industry for the next wave of wireless technology."
 
Wi-max

It`s all fine and well if Intel releases state of the art chips. The reality for SA is that untill there is an open playing field in the wireless provider market, then Telkom remains in control of the monopoly providing Wimax in a regulated market. Is this to protect the cellphone providers, as VOIP has become a reality and would knock the cost of cell traffic as products like Skype take effect.
 
"Intel plans to replace WiFi with WiMax"

rpm, that's not what Intel are saying ... in fact they have a clear strategy
to implement a dual WiFi and WiMax on a single chip.

I got this directly from the horses mouth (the President and COO of Intel)
at a meeting overseas some months back.
 
I still say this technology is the one to watch - my gut-feel has never proved itself to be wrong, so far. Methinx this is the solution for local-loop issues, logistics issues surrounding coverage, servicing of unconnected areas, and so on - despite the fact that I have no idea of the technicalities involved. Something tells me that this technology will be the catalyst for fixing our interminable communications issues, and give some reality to the Telkrap advertisement of the Gogo on the hill shouting 'Hullooo!'. It should also provide a booster to community mesh networks, so the likes of JAWUG would then have justification for the 'J' in their name, for example. Of course, all speculation at this stage - anybody got any insight into the Telkrap/Grintek pilots?
 
I don't dispute the backhaul issues referred to by the article - ours are even worse, thanx to Telkrap. However, methinx our local loop ('fronthaul'?!) issues are currently of even greater concern, given the 25% facility constraint. Pressure on them through consumer uptake of devices designed for the kinds of speeds and functionality potentially available from technologies like WiMax, should cause eventual 'loosening' of the backhaul constraint, anyway. I'd dearly love to know what the current thinking in Telkrap is about WiMax, and what their long-term plans are in this regard...
 
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