With LTE in the spotlight, it’s been a bit quiet in the WiMAX arena lately. But some industry stakeholders—including WiMAX equipment manufacturer Motorola–continue to see significant potential in the technology. After announcing a version of its WiMax platform designed to meet the needs of rural and other low-teledensity operators early this year, Motorola announced it has selected Eden Rock Communications to serve as a systems integrator for delivering the “low-teledensity” offering.
Eden Rock, which calls itself a “leading innovator of 4G wireless self-organizing network solutions,” will provide system engineering, integration and testing services for the Motorola offering, with the goal of providing an end-to-end solution. As part of those responsibilities Eden Rock will host a fully integrated testing site in Mexico that will be open to current and potential customers.
Many rural carriers are interested in WiMAX, with companies like KeyOn and Open Range actively deploying rural WiMAX networks. But some carriers may have put deployment plans on hold while awaiting results of applications for broadband stimulus funding. To date broadband stimulus awards have favored landline fiber-based projects. But with a September 30 deadline for all stimulus funds to be awarded, carriers that do not win may resume previous WiMAX deployment plans.
Motorola’s low-density WiMAX offering includes a gateway that can support 24,000 or fewer subscribers and what the company calls “more cost-effective” customer premises equipment that enables operators to pursue “price-sensitive” customers. The company’s CPE is a data-only, single-port indoor desktop device designed for customers to install themselves. The WiMAX network automatically detects the device when it is powered up and performs the necessary authentication processes.
