NT launching WiMAX in November
KATHMANDU, Aug 16:
Nepal Telecom (NT) is launching high-speed broadband Internet service based on WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) technology within next three months.
After completing survey for the project, US firm Airspan has started supplying equipment to develop infrastructure for the project. NT earlier this year had signed an agreement worth US $10 million with the company to start WiMAX service.
Airspan is one of the leading vendors of broadband wireless products and solutions.
Gunakeshari Pradhan, joint spokesperson of NT, said preparations to start WiMAX service were at the final stage. “We plan to trial the service from November,” he added.
NT is planning to launch the service in Kathmandu Valley in the first phase. It plans to expand the service to Bhairahawa, Pokhara and their surrounding VDCs in the second phase.
“The equipment required to expand the service in Bhairahawa and Pokhara has already arrived,” she said, adding that the operator was installing equipment in 47 points in the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding areas in the first phase.
NT´s WiMAX broadband project aims to take high-speed Internet service to all VDCs by the end of 2013. Considered as the fourth generation (4G) communication technology, WiMAX is popular for high-speed wireless Internet service.
Pradhan said NT was working out a business plan for the commercial success of the high-speed Internet service. “We will develop different packages to suit the need of people across the country,” she added.
NT plans to implement the project under two phases. In the first phase, it is building a network that covers 1,923 VDCs and 24 municipalities in western Nepal. Likewise, in the second phase the service will be made available in 2,092 VDCs and 34 municipalities in eastern Nepal.
Although WiMAX can also be used for voice telephony, NT is focusing mainly on the data segment that will have a minimum bandwidth of 256 kbps downlink and uplink. NT is setting up 1,500 hotspots for WiMAX in urban areas.
According to NT officials, customers will have to purchase customer-premise equipment to access this service in computers. Browsing through WiFi device will be possible in areas covered by the hotspots. Under WiMAX, users can enjoy Internet speed up to 27 mbps.
The bandwidth can be adjusted as per the customer´s demand, according to the officials.
Source: Republica
