WiMax services from multiple providers in SA will end the monopoly of last mile connectivity, bring down the price of wireless broadband, and help extend access to new areas where there is no alternative access infrastructure, says Internet Solutions (IS).
"WiMax will address the problems of price and availability, which are the two main reasons less than 8% of the population has access to the Internet," Richard van Katwijk of the IS business unit told attendees of the Internetix end-user event in Bryanston yesterday.
The Independent Communications Authority of SA (ICASA) recently awarded IS a WiMax test licence and allocated spectrum in the regulated 3.5GHz frequency band. The company is conducting proof of concept trials at sites in Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban.
"Our ultimate goal is to deploy a WiMax network to offer better-priced alternatives to current methods of accessing the Internet," said Van Katwijk, pointing out the main intention of WiMax is to deliver broadband access wirelessly over the last mile.
However, Jeff Fletcher of IS new business development, dispelled some of the myths he said had sprung around WiMax, emphasising it would not solve all SA`s problems.
WiMax myths
First, he tackled what he said were common misconceptions about WiMax`s range and speed.
"WiMax is frequently said to have a data transmission range of 70km at 40Mbps, but in reality fixed WiMax is limited to a range of about 15km, mobile WiMax is limited to about 3km and transmission rates are limited to 7Mbps, although 2Mbps is the most common," he said.
WiMax is regularly touted as not requiring line of sight and as offering better connectivity than ADSL, but Fletcher said 3.5GHz usually required line of sight between antennae, particular for voice services. He also said it was not necessarily better than ADSL.
"WiMax is as good as ADSL and really makes sense only where ADSL is not available, and that is why it is gaining popularity in countries where there is not a lot of copper in the ground and where there is not a lot of ADSL," he said.
WiMax future
According to Fletcher, the next four years will see a gradual decrease in the cost of WiMax reception equipment and the maturity of both fixed and mobile standards to eventually enable WiMax roaming.
"By 2010, we expect the emergence of handsets that will be independent of the connection mechanism and will scan for the best connection at the lowest price, whether that is traditional cellular connectivity or WiMax," he said.
With the emergence of multi-mode handsets, flat rates for voice communications is expected to become key. Fletcher said as WiMax begins to compete with cellular networks, the biggest advantage service providers will have is to offer flat-rated voice services to compete with traditional mobile telephony.
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