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Posdata Acquires Int'l Certificate for Mobile WiMAX Wave2 Base Station

Posdata announced its base-station using Mobile WiMAX Wave 2 acquired an international certificate. The base-station (FLYVO RAS6000) deploys the Multiple Input Multiple Output technology defined by Mobile WiMAX Forum, according to the company.

The WiMAX base-station covers a 10MHz bandwidth at 2.5GHz, the frequency band that the majority of operators around the world planning to launch Mobile WiMAX service have the right to use.

To obtain the certificate, RAS6000 has undergone RCT (Radio Conformance Test), PCT (Protocol Conformance Test) and interoperability test run by TTA, the WiMAX Forum- designated test laboratory in Korea. The certified base-station of Posdata will serve as a standard station for Mobile WiMAX interoperability test, the company added.

Posdata expects the certification of 2.5GHz Wave 2 base-station for its performance and reliability, following the 2.3GHz product base-station in April, will give a new momentum for the Korean company to advance into the global market.

Samsung Supplies Lithuanian Radio & TV Center with WiMAX Equipment

Samsung Electronics signed an agreement for supplying WiMAX equipment for LRTC (Lithuania Radio & TV centre), the state-run broadcasting station that owns the license for the next-generation high-speed wireless communication service.

Accordingly, Samsung and LRTC will start the construction of WiMAX network in the capital, Vilnius in December to complete the nation-wide network by 2010. Lithuania will embark on the commercial Mobile WiMAX service in the Q1, 2009 from the region where the network is completed.

The WiMAX equipment that Samsung will provide for Lithuania is a 3.5GHz system that is presently used for stationary WiMAX service. Samsung expects the majority of stationary WiMAX will be switched to Mobile WiMAX in years. WiMAX Forum plans to give international certificates for 3.5GHz Mobile WiMAX products this year, the company added.

The contract with LRTC signified that Mobile WiMAX is spreading into every corner of the world, the Korean company said.

Samsung Looks to Netbook for Better Chance in the WiBro Market

Samsung Electronics gets into the netbook market that is rapidly growing these days by launching NC10, a netbook computer of compact size and high functionality comparable to laptops’ in China, Europe, the US as well as in Korea.

A netbook is a mini computer with outstanding portability, which is designed to carry out fundamental purposes of a computer such as web search, documentation and emailing. Netbook computers are surging in demands among those who want to buy their first computer in emerging markets, while they are popular as a sub-computer in advanced nations.

Samsung had been indifferent to the netbook market due to fierce price competition there, but belatedly decided to plunge into the market as it found the cooperation with KT and other telecom operators would develop into a lucrative business model. KT is making intensive marketing efforts for WiBro through alliances with netbook makers such as Asus and Kohjinsha.

Joining forces with KT, Samsung is seeking to provide netbooks at competitive prices in various ways including subsidization. The Korean electronics giant announced the plan to roll out netbook computers enabled with communication modules supporting WiBro, HSDPA, etc.

Earlier this month, KT built up WiBro Alliance with companies manufacturing netbooks, PMP and navigation systems to strengthen the competitiveness of WiBro.

KT Launches Commercial WiMAX Service in Uzbekistan

KT, the South Korean WiBro service provider announced the launch of commercial WiBro service named EVO in three Uzbek cities such Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, and Samarqand.

KT took over Super iMAX owning the license for a nationwide WiMAX service in Uzbekistan in November 2007 and completed the network construction in August this year. In September 9, the company finally achieved the permission from the Uzbek government for the commercial service.

In the beginning, the Korean operator will focus on enterprise customers to take advantage of the large demands for broadband internet and then expand the marketing scope toward individual customers. The company will offer a wide choice of customized pricing plans and WiBro devices and establish a customer center to provide WiBro experience for potential customers.

KT will keep working for enhancement and stabilization of the network quality of Super iMAX to gradually widen the service coverage.

According to the Korean operator, while Uzbekistan has the largest population (26.5 million) in Central Asia and shows 7% economic growth a year, its internet penetration is only 8%, which indicates the great growth potential for WiMAX. KT expects WiMAX service will spread into neighboring countries of Uzbekistan.

Korea Mulls Allowing Voice Calls over WiBro

Korea is considering allowing companies to provide voice call services based on WiBro, a once-touted homegrown mobile Internet technology, to prompt further investment and competition in the telecom sector, a government report said Wednesday.

WiBro, one of the major third-generation (3G) wireless Internet standards, is an improved version of WiMAX, which enables broadband-like Web connectivity even when a user is in motion. WiMAX refers to a wireless Internet technology developed by Intel.

Despite having been recognized as a leading 3G communications standard, WiBro has fallen into obscurity here since its commercial launch two years ago, due mainly to limited coverage, unreliable connectivity and lack of "killer applications." The Korea Communications Commission, the nation's telecom regulator, said in a report to the National Assembly that it is considering granting phone numbers to currently-used WiBro IDs to carry voice calls.

The report, however, did not specifically elaborate on how the phone numbers, to run on WiBro for calls to other fixed-and-wireless devices, would be put into use.

Several cable television operators, which also provide broadband connection services, are currently seeking to use the WiBro technology to expand their range of services, according to industry sources.

LG Telecom, the nation's smallest wireless carrier, is also eyeing use of the mobile broadband technology due to its lack of sufficient frequency bandwidths compared to larger rivals, they added.

The country's near-saturated handset carrier industry, divided between SK Telecom, KTF and LG Telecom, expect a large shakeup if the government approves of the measure, as it could lead to further cutthroat competition down the road, industry watchers say.

The three companies already have their own separate 3G mobile services released on the market.

Korea had 45.13 million mobile service users out of a population of 49 million as of the end of last month, according to latest market reports.

YonhapNewsAgency

Korea to Designate the 3rd WiBro Service Provider

Korea Communications Committee (KCC) announced that it would select another provider to boost WiBro service. Currently, KT and SK Telecom have the license to offer the service in Korea.
 
KCC promised strong support for WiBro service as a way to increase investment in communications industry. KCC also hinted that it will provide numbers to WiBro users so that they can take and make voice calls. It was designed to add competition between WiBro and other mobile services. Plus, the authority plans to deprive SK Telecom of its exclusive right to use the 800Mhz frequency and reallocate lower than 1Ghz frequency bands, which offers better call quality, to WiBro service. 

To encourage facility investment, KCC plans service quality assessment that would push service providers to put more money in quality improvement. The government is going to host a ministerial meeting with countries preparing for WiBro service to provide policy support for the service expansion around the world.
 
As KCC demonstrated a strong will to encourage investment by supporting WiBro service, SKT, which has been far from enthusiastic about the service, might feel threatened. SK Telecom's WiBro subscribers number around 1,000 persons. On the surface, KT and WiBro met government requirement for investment in the service, but when it comes to service quality in coverage areas and the number of subscribers, the two fell short of government's expectation. 
 
Will the government strategy be successful? It's rather skeptical. Both of SK Telecom and KT operate mobile services and it's not easy for them to invest more aggressively in WiBro out of fear about cannibalization.
 
In particular, Hanaro Teleocm gave up on the service license. In this situation, the question is who would jump in the business that requires huge new investment. To offer call quality comparable to existing mobile services, about 3-4 trillion won is required.
 
Yujin Investment and Securities said that building new networks is far less cost-efficient for a new comer especially considering increased investment cost. Also, abundant liquidity of existing industry players will make it more difficult to enter the industry, said the firm. Given that the price of 3G license was 1.3 trillion won, it is unfair to provide voice call numbers to WiBro providers, who pay only 130 billion won, said Yujin.

KT Expands WiBro Partnerships with Digital Device Makers

KT enters into strategic alliances with companies manufacturing portable digital devices such netbooks, PMP, navigation systems and electronic dictionaries, the South Korean WiBro service provider announced.

The company forged partnerships with 13 companies including Intel. Other partners are netbook makers such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, TG, HP and Kohjinsha; Cowon, a PMP manufacture; and Reigncom which makes electronic dictionaries.

By forming alliances with these companies, KT aims to strengthen the cooperation system for WiBro with device manufacturers and promote the use of WiBro through convergence with netbooks, PMP, electronic dictionaries and navigation systems that are exponentially growing these days. The operator expects the integration between WiBro and portable digital devices will fully open up wireless personal broadband market which will shift the focus of mobile devices from voice to the Internet.

Quoting Yankee Group, KT reports WiBro creates a new mobile personal broadband market where mobile communications and high-speed internet service meet.