WiMaX Getting into Russia now

MOSCOW, July 17 (Prime-Tass) - Although many Russians have not yet
grown accustomed to GPRS and EDGE for mobile services and Wi-Fi and
ADSL for Internet access, all these abbreviations and technologies
might be soon replaced by a single one - WiMAX. Several Russian
companies already offer WiMAX services and more are planning to roll
out WiMAX but how fast this service will develop is not yet clear.
The ministry's concern, according to the MCMC statement, was "in
view of the current requirement to align the rollout of wireless
broadband services in Malaysia to support the national MyICMS886
strategy at achieving set targets for broadband rollout over the next
five years and beyond."

Interestingly, the tender document, under Part One - Strategy, point
7.1 (a) says: "The applicant shall demonstrate its strategy on
effectively and efficiently utilising the spectrum blocks to contribute
towards achievement of the MyICMS886 strategy." The tender document
has also defined 13 geographical areas where 2.3GHz needed be provided.
The areas include 13 states in the country, Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.

The MyICMS886 is essentially a five-year ICT blueprint outlining an
industry-driven initiative that will leverage on existing policies and
programmes to increase the usage of broadband Internet, cellular
telephone service and 3G services. Under the plan, the government
envisages broadband penetration to grow to at least 15% of the
population in 2010 compared with 5% now.

That aside, an expert said: "It is sad that such a plan to widen
broadband connectivity is being shot done so early in its infancy
stage. One wonders how the country is going to achieve its ambitious
high penetration rates."

The minister may have his reasons for the recall, but there is much
talk on the possibile reasons. Some say it has to do with a
protectionist policy. Another version questions why some players
continue to collect spectrums and not deliver? Yet another version is
that the "whole delay is part of an agenda to allow easy passage for
certain players to get the spectrum," while others said that "it is
time to allow smaller players to prove their worth."

Whatever the reasons, WiMax, which is a good enabling technology, can
help the nation expand its broadband penetration rate. However, it
"will take time as WiMax notebooks and tablets will not arrive in
volumes until 2008-2009, while compatible mobile WiMax handsets will
not arrive until 2010."

Intel envisions WiMax to be the third high-speed Internet access
alternative.

For more Information : www.knowingabout.com/wimax