1st WIMAX WISP in RSA?

[SideWinder]

Have heard that BBCX SA aka Broadband Connection South Africa PTY (LTD) are about to launch 802.16e services in the Walmer area, Port Elizabeth, using Navini equipment @ 2.6 Ghz. Apparently they are starting to test the first site shortly.

They are part a BBCX Inc., out of Calfornia, USA. Website bbcx.net does say much.

Any comments?

[captainwifi]

You mean 2.5ghz? 2.5 belongs to Sentech. 2.4 is the ISM bands.
Telkom has 3.5ghz and 5.8ghz is for everybody else.
There is no 2.6ghz as far as I know.

[IceQB]

Pe!!!!!!!!!!!!

[IceQB]

u have a contact no for them?

[Roman4604]

BBCX SA aka Broadband Connection South Africa PTY (LTD) are about to launch 802.16e services .... @ 2.6 Ghz

Do you know if they got a radio frequency spectrum license from ICASA .... if not, old big T gonna be after them.

[dbnnet]

I doubt that this story holds much substance, as Navini are not yet even shipping 802.16e, and only plan to do so in 2006.

[dominic]

may (i am not sure) have something to do with SITA...afaik they are done trialling wimax and may be doing a project

if it really is a foreign company it could be an extremely interesting development...please could someone in p.e. find out more

[Roman4604]

I doubt that this story holds much substance, as Navini are not yet even shipping 802.16e, and only plan to do so in 2006.

The way the forum is going, I would'nt expect 'e' to be a reality before 07 ... maybe trialing their proprietry Ripwave kit tho.

[dbnnet]

... maybe trialing their proprietry Ripwave kit tho.

Yes, I think you are right. I wonder if BBCX SA will fall for that "guaranteed upgrade" cr@p too

[jbad]

Do you know if they got a radio frequency spectrum license from ICASA .... if not, old big T gonna be after them.

Where can one see a listing of all the licenceholders?

[Roman4604]

Where can one see a listing of all the licenceholders?

ICASA ... but cant find a list on their website.

[Chaz]

I doubt that this story holds much substance, as Navini are not yet even shipping 802.16e, and only plan to do so in 2006.

I dont think Navini will ever run true WiMax - not D or E standards.

[MaxWi]

Navini does not conform to the 802.16 2004 standard and 2.7GHz is not a WiMAX Forum approved frequency. The point of WiMAX is that it can interoperate between manufacturers, so being on frequencies outside of the approved range defeats the object!

[Need4Speed]

As far as I know WiMax includes all frequencies from 1GHz to 11GHz. The 802.16d standard is fixed at 3.5GHz however. 802.16e is not ratified yet, and I'm not sure what frequency ranges will be used (probably 2.3, 2.5 and 3.5). From what I've heard Sentech and WBS are still the only wireless players in town, licensewise.

If these guys don't have frequency they can forget providing a "WiMax-compatible" service. WiMax or not, if they are going to use 2.4GHz the service will be useless. They can have the coolest equipment with the fanciest NLOS capabilities and 2 Watt transmitters etc etc etc, interference will kill them. And if they use a licensed frequency without a license, icasa will kill them.

[Chaz]

As far as I know WiMax includes all frequencies from 1GHz to 11GHz. The 802.16d standard is fixed at 3.5GHz however. 802.16e is not ratified yet, and I'm not sure what frequency ranges will be used (probably 2.3, 2.5 and 3.5). From what I've heard Sentech and WBS are still the only wireless players in town, licensewise.

If these guys don't have frequency they can forget providing a "WiMax-compatible" service. WiMax or not, if they are going to use 2.4GHz the service will be useless. They can have the coolest equipment with the fanciest NLOS capabilities and 2 Watt transmitters etc etc etc, interference will kill them. And if they use a licensed frequency without a license, icasa will kill them.

WiMax is only selected frequencies between ~2 and 6 GHz - nothing more.
802.16d applies to all those frequencies - not just 3.5GHz - some frequencies have equipment available already, although in most cases only at the middle 3.5GHz band. 5.8GHz is not available yet although on most vendor's roadmap for Q2 2006.