By: MarkJ - 25 November, 2008 (1:29 PM)
Fixed-Access Wireless ISP
FREEDOM4 has achieved the world’s first seamless mobile
WiMAX session handover between base stations operating at two different frequencies (2.5GHz & 3.6GHz). The technology was developed in conjunction with its partners, Airspan Networks, Bridgewater Systems and Starent Networks:
Graham Currier, COO at FREEDOM4 comments, “
We have the spectrum position and capability to implement a wholesale network and systems platform ideally suited to compete in the rapidly expanding market for wireless broadband services.”
Paul Senior, Airspan Networks CTO adds, “
The ability to combine their 3.6GHz spectrum with 2.5GHz enables carriers on a national or international basis to support seamless handover and roaming regardless of the WiMAX profile that is used. This breakthrough was achieved using Airspan’s quad band Q-Series MiMAX USB device with base stations co-developed by Airspan and Fujitsu.”
However at present mobile
WiMAX technology is not being used for the most commonly recognised form of
Mobile Broadband service in the UK, which is instead based on
HSPA (up to 14.4Mbps maximum). LTE (Long Term Evolution) is also seen as a more likely candidate to replace
HSPA in the future.
Today's development may give
WiMAX a bit more muscle but the hill it has to climb is looking increasingly steep. LTE is further behind, yet some suggest that it could be cheaper and easier for mobile operators to deploy. The success of
HSPA suggests that mobile providers probably don't mind waiting for LTE and they don’t appear to be in a hurry to adopt
WiMAX.
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