Operators Demonstrate First Ever International WiMAX(TM) Roaming at WiMAX Forum(R) Member Conference in Taiwan
TAIPEI, Taiwan, Oct 26, 2009 (BUSINESS WIRE) --
Company: Alcatel-Lucent (ALU)
Clearwire International LLC, an operating subsidiary of Clearwire Corporation, Tatung InfoComm and VMAX today publicly demonstrated the first Mobile WiMAX(TM) global roaming at the WiMAX Forum Member Conference in Taipei this week. The conference also highlighted the strength of the WiMAX ecosystem in Taipei, including the anticipated commercial rollout of six WiMAX networks in Taiwan by Q1 2010.
The WiMAX Forum Taiwan Office, with participating WiMAX ecosystem partners Samsung, Futureinfonet, Alcatel-Lucent, and Bridgewater Systems, hosted live roaming demonstrations in Taipei. The demonstrations featured a roaming WiMAX user with commercially available Mobile WiMAX devices to show how visitors may access a local WiMAX network in Taiwan. Tatung InfoComm and VMAX demonstrated two-way roaming which is critical in Taiwan for services between the northern and southern licensees. Roaming from Clearwire International to VMAX and Tatung InfoComm was also featured as international roaming is a key feature of WiMAX as a global technology. This pioneering end-to-end WiMAX roaming demonstration illustrates the interoperability of WiMAX equipment and the availability and readiness of international roaming on WiMAX networks.
"Global roaming is a critical factor for the success of WiMAX as a leading global broadband wireless technology," said Ron Resnick, president and chairman of the WiMAX Forum. "Roaming is important to operators today, as there are more than 500 WiMAX deployments in more than 145 countries and the momentum of WiMAX deployments continues with double digit deployment adds each month."
WiMAX Roaming Exchanges (WRX) enable roaming between WiMAX operators allowing quicker implementation of roaming services, faster time to market for new operators and lower capital expenditures. In the case of Taiwan, the WiMAX Forum Taiwan Office initiated roaming trials while working closely with Aicent, a participating WRX, to coordinate and enable WiMAX roaming trials among universities, research institutes and several WiMAX operators globally. To date, the global roaming trials team has accomplished successful roaming trials domestically within Taiwan and internationally from the United States to Taiwan.
Taiwan grows its substantial WiMAX ecosystem
According to The Industrial Economics and Knowledge Center (IEK) of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Taiwanese WiMAX CPE shipments will reach up to 2.72 million units by the end of 2009, a 196% increase over the previous year with value of the output reaching NT$8 Billion. The organization also estimates that the demand for WiMAX products will increase Taiwanese WiMAX CPE shipments to six million units and NT$23 Billion in 2010.
Taiwan has been a strong supporter of WiMAX since the technology's formative years. The first WiMAX Forum Applications Lab, M-Taiwan Applications Lab (MTWAL) was established in 2007 in collaboration with VMAX and continues to lead the industry in groundbreaking uses for mobile broadband technologies. MTWAL taps local universities' innovation by providing a platform for students and professors to develop applications for high speed, mobile networks.
MTWAL will hold their annual open house in Hsinchu on October 27, 2009. This year, it will turn the MTWAL environment into a small theme park, providing an opportunity for visitors to experience the applications on MTWAL's WiMAX network. The applications include:
-- Air Pollution Based Navigation - a WiMAX capable MID that plots a route through the city based on the freshest air
-- BuyFast - a remote ordering and a drive-through system enabled by WiMAX plus LBS system that will allow pre-ordering from rest prior to arrival
-- Fire Scene Commanding System - with support of wireless-enabled equipment, you will earn vigorous applause for rescuing victims from disaster sites and successfully completing missions
-- Pocket Channel - with support of mobile network, you could provide live shows and share real-time programs on your own channel
For more information on MTWAL's open house, please contact mtwal@wimaxforum.org. To learn more about WiMAX global roaming programs, visit www.wimaxroaming.org.
About the WiMAX Forum(R)
The WiMAX Forum(R) is an industry-led, not-for-profit organization that certifies and promotes the compatibility and interoperability of broadband wireless products based upon the IEEE 802.16. A WiMAX Forum goal is to accelerate the introduction of these systems into the marketplace. WiMAX Forum Certified products are interoperable and support broadband fixed, nomadic, portable and mobile services.
Along these lines, the WiMAX Forum works closely with service providers and regulators to ensure that WiMAX Forum Certified systems meet customer and government requirements. Through the WiMAX Forum Congress Events Series of global trade shows and events, the WiMAX Forum is committed to furthering education, training and collaboration to expand the reach of the WiMAX ecosystem. For more information, visit the trade show link at www.wimaxforum.org.
"WiMAX Forum," the WiMAX Forum logo and the WiMAX Forum Certified logo are registered trademarks of the WiMAX Forum. "WiMAX," "Mobile WiMAX," "Fixed WiMAX," "WiMAX Certified," and "WiMAX Forum Certified" are trademarks of the WiMAX Forum. Third-party trademarks contained in this document are the property of their respective owners.
SOURCE: The WiMAX Forum
The WiMAX Forum Scenna Tabesh, +1-503-924-2926 Director, Marketing Communications scenna@wimaxforum.org or GolinHarris Becca Harpham, +1-972-341-2527 bharpham@golinharris.com
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Company: Alcatel-Lucent (ALU)
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