Intel calls for regional action on WiMAX to foster better and cost-effective connectivity

Speaking at the third Arab Telecom Regulators Network Meeting in Abu Dhabi, 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 the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, 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 several working groups such as WiMAX Forum, the regional regulators and the International Telecommunicatioon Union.' he stated.

HE Mohamed Al-Ghanim, Director General of the UAE's Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) said 'that the TRA realizes the importance of WiMAX and that it was actively working to allocate a suitable frequency for it and creating the necessary policies for introducing this technology in the UAE for the benefit of users.'

Al-Ghanim added: 'The TRA is currently working on allocating spectrum for WiMAX taking into consideration the frequencies already applied in the country and in accordance with international trials for using the right frequency for this technology in accordance with the framework of the International Telecommunication Union.'

'Since we believe that WiMAX is greatly important to the region, enabling the growth of communication services and wideband data transfer; we will be finalizing the needed regulatory policies and procedures by year end to ensure best use of this technology in the UAE provided it does not conflict with other services currently available in the country,' Al Ghanim concluded.

Intel's Jarrar presentation on WiMAX was entitled 'Enabling a Regulatory Framework for Tomorrow's World' and attended by telecom regulations experts from across the Arab world. Jarrar also called strongly for regulations that will allow businesses to decide which technology to use. 'Intel favours technology-neutral regulations, which allows companies in the Arab world to choose between different technologies like WiMAX and 3G within this allocated spectrum,' he pointed out.

WiMAX stands for Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, and is a standards-based wireless technology that provides high-throughput broadband connections over long distances. WiMAX can be used for a number of applications, including 'last mile' broadband connections, hotspots and cellular backhaul, and high-speed enterprise connectivity for business. It supports broadband services like VoIP or video. While today's implementations are based on fixed WiMAX (IEEE 802.16-2004), first mobile WiMAX networks (IEEE 802.16-2005) are expected by the end of the year.

WiMAX is similar to WiFi but offers larger bandwidth, stronger encryption and improved performance over longer distances by connecting between receiving stations that are not in the line of sight. Riyadh is set to join a growing family of international cities that have adopted WiMAX technology, including New York, Los Angeles, and cities in Europe, Latin America and China.