Intel gives region's regulators a glimpse into the future of WiMAX

As part of its efforts to educate the region's telecom regulators on the benefits of WiMAX, Intel held a special two-day training event in Cairo titled 'The Wireless Broadband Revolution: Wi-Fi, WiMAX, and UWB - the Technical, Business, and Spectrum Policy Ramifications in the Global Marketplace'. The event provided information about the technologies that are driving the broadband revolution worldwide through presentations given by Intel. The focus was on how standards-based wireless broadband technologies such as Wi-Fi, WiMAX and Ultra-wideband can enable flexible, low-cost, high quality Internet access solutions.

Speaking at the event, Intel's Graham MacDonald, Wireless Standards and Regulations Manager, Technology Policy and Standards, EMEA Government Affairs, outlined the economic and social benefits that wireless broadband deployment can provide to government, industry, and consumers in this region.

'The World is going wireless, WiMAX is the best solution for next generation communications, and Intel is the leading building block supplier to the WiMAX ecosystem,' says MacDonald. 'WiMAX is real, deployed and changing people's lives. It provides a better mobile wireless broadband experience and is the best solution for the next generation communications'.

Presenters at the event provided an in-depth understanding of WiMAX wireless broadband standards, devices, applications interoperability certification, and performance. Representatives from more than 12 countries in the Middle East and Africa were given an overview of new and emerging worldwide wireless broadband technologies, standards and regulatory issues.

Abdulrahman Jarrar, Intel's Regional Manager, Government Affairs - Middle East, Turkey and Africa said that WiMAX was of the greatest importance in the region, and that Intel was actively engaged in promoting it, and that business and government entities should look upon it as a vital tool for the future. 'As a global technology leader, Intel is mobilising and empowering the industry and the ecosystem to foster demand for cost-effective digital connectivity.'

'We believe that WiMAX serves as part of the right solution for users in this region, and we are working towards promoting this standard-based technology to increase connectivity as a key enabler for digital transformation,' he said. Jarrar spoke of the fixed version of WiMAX as being real and happening today, while mobile WiMAX- products scheduled to be made available later this year and in early 2007. 'Intel has already introduced WiMAX in various countries in the region, and has had great success with trials and test runs. We believe that WiMAX will play a key role in creating cost-effective connectivity solutions, and as such, we are intensely promoting it in association with the WiMAX Forum, to regional regulators and within the International Telecommunication Union.' he stated.

WiMAX is a standards-based wireless technology for providing high-speed, last-mile broadband connectivity to homes and businesses and for mobile wireless networks. Intel's WiMAX silicon delivers the features needed to enable cost-effective, high-speed wireless modems for homes and businesses.