Libera Concentrates On WiMAX
Posted: 03rd Dec, 2004 By: MarkJ
Broadband wireless ISP Libra has, despite on-going difficulties with the technology itself, focused its efforts on a national WiMAX network instead of via the 28GHz spectrum:
CEO Robert Condon says that the huge cost differences between using standards-based gear in unlicensed bands, and buying equipment for 28GHz, was the deciding factor. With the 28GHz base stations priced around £90,000, compared to about £20,000 for first generation WiMAX gear, it would have cost about £9m to equip the whole of Greater London.
Although the original network - which had a pilot site in London's Canary Wharf business district - would have been based on Alvarion base stations, for WiMAX, Libera has turned to Aperto Networks, also used by TowerStream. The main deciding factor was Aperto's advanced intereference management techniques, which could prove vital as the unlicensed 5.8GHz space becomes more crowded. The first build-out will be in Bristol, a city with about 400,000 people, and the aim is to cover 75 per cent of UK businesses over the coming two years.
Like TowerStream, Libera will create its networks by acquiring roof rights on two or more tall buildings in each city. It has secured these rights in two tall Bristol towers, and is now negotiating for a site in west London that could cover a radius of eight kilometers. The plan is to go live in London in February and, depending on raising a round of funding, to expand to 50 sites in the course of 2005.
More @ The Register.
CEO Robert Condon says that the huge cost differences between using standards-based gear in unlicensed bands, and buying equipment for 28GHz, was the deciding factor. With the 28GHz base stations priced around £90,000, compared to about £20,000 for first generation WiMAX gear, it would have cost about £9m to equip the whole of Greater London.
Although the original network - which had a pilot site in London's Canary Wharf business district - would have been based on Alvarion base stations, for WiMAX, Libera has turned to Aperto Networks, also used by TowerStream. The main deciding factor was Aperto's advanced intereference management techniques, which could prove vital as the unlicensed 5.8GHz space becomes more crowded. The first build-out will be in Bristol, a city with about 400,000 people, and the aim is to cover 75 per cent of UK businesses over the coming two years.
Like TowerStream, Libera will create its networks by acquiring roof rights on two or more tall buildings in each city. It has secured these rights in two tall Bristol towers, and is now negotiating for a site in west London that could cover a radius of eight kilometers. The plan is to go live in London in February and, depending on raising a round of funding, to expand to 50 sites in the course of 2005.
More @ The Register.
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