4G Global Update - August 4, 2010

 

Spain Gets First WiMAX Deployment

TechEYE

Spain has got its first WiMAX 802.16e network following an agreement between ZTE and telecoms provider Iberbanda back in 2009 which will see 500 base stations deployed for two years. The first base stations have been bunged in the rural regions of Galicia on the north-west coast and its next-door neighbor Asturias which will bring high speed broadband to the areas. MORE

DoCoMo Unveils New LTE Brand 'Xi'

TeleGeography

With the commercial launch of LTE services slated to begin in December this year, Japan's NTT DoCoMo has announced the new brand name of its 4G next generation network. The cellco will offer LTE under the brand name "Xi" (read as "crossy"). The cellco says the "X" denotes connection and infinite possibility, while the "i" stands for the individual and for innovation. DoCoMo also unveiled its new logo for Xi which in some respects resembles the infinity symbol. At launch, the cellco says its new network will deliver downlink connectivity of up to 75Mbps -- roughly ten times faster than current transmission speeds. MORE

Clearwire Introduces iSpot

Clearwire

WCAI/GDC member Clearwire introduced the iSpot, a 4G personal mobile hotspot with dedicated service for Apple's mobile products, including the iPad, iPod touch, and iPhone. The iSpot offers users of these products unlimited mobile broadband service, at 4G speeds, for $25/month. MORE

New Zealand Government Finally Agrees to Regulate MTRs

TeleGeography

The New Zealand government has confirmed that it will take steps to regulate mobile termination rates (MTRs) within the country's wireless market. ICT minister Steven Joyce has accepted a Commerce Commission recommendation on the regulation of MTRs, and will add the subject to schedule 1 of the Telecommunications Act. The Commerce Commission will then begin a process to set prices and other terms which mobile carriers must offer. Joyce said that the process is likely to take "a few months." MORE

Telus Boosting Mobile Speeds to 42Mbps With Dual Cell in Canada

TeleGeography

Canadian wireless, wireline and broadband operator Telus Corp has begun work on doubling the maximum theoretical data speed of its mobile network to 42Mbps by the first quarter of 2011, reports The Globe and Mail. Currently, peak download capability of 21Mbps is supported via HSPA+ technology across the national 3G network which Telus launched in partnership with Bell in November 2009 under a cost-saving agreement. MORE

WiMAX In Africa -- The Next Billion Users

TMCnet

The Next Billion Users The Report provides newly researched analysis highlighting the potential for mobile broadband internet subscriber growth in Africa, critically evaluating WiMAX's potential against other technologies such as HSPA. The Report draws out the full potential of mobile broadband by contextualising our forecasts against country-by-country projections for wireless subscribers (2007-2012) in over 20 African states. MORE