Sprint Nextel and Clearwire to Partner to Accelerate and Expand the Deployment of the First Nationwide Mobile WiMAX Broadband Network

Sprint Nextel and Clearwire plan to jointly construct the first nationwide mobile broadband network using WiMAX technology, and promote the global development of WiMAX-based services. The planned arrangement, which is set out in a letter of intent, is expected to provide broad benefits to consumers, businesses, educators, the Federal government and public safety users by fostering quicker, broader and more efficient deployment of a mobile WiMAX broadband network than either company could accomplish on its own.

The WiMAX network is being designed to deliver mobile broadband services in urban, suburban and rural markets, and enable significantly greater depth and breadth of services. The arrangement also is expected to enable each company to increase capital efficiency and reduce overall network development and operating costs. Read more

Sprint Nextel and Clearwire to Partner to Accelerate and Expand the Deployment of the First Nationwide Mobile WiMAX Broadband Network

Sprint Nextel and Clearwire plan to jointly construct the first nationwide mobile broadband network using WiMAX technology, and promote the global development of WiMAX-based services. The planned arrangement, which is set out in a letter of intent, is expected to provide broad benefits to consumers, businesses, educators, the Federal government and public safety users by fostering quicker, broader and more efficient deployment of a mobile WiMAX broadband network than either company could accomplish on its own.

The WiMAX network is being designed to deliver mobile broadband services in urban, suburban and rural markets, and enable significantly greater depth and breadth of services. The arrangement also is expected to enable each company to increase capital efficiency and reduce overall network development and operating costs. Read more

ZTE USA to supply Sprint Nextel with WiMAX devices and modems

ZTE USA, Inc. a subsidiary of ZTE Corporation, today announced that it has entered into a master purchase agreement with Sprint Nextel. Under the terms of the agreement, ZTE will supply Sprint with WiMAX PC cards in express and USB form factors, and advanced modem solutions for home networking. The agreement was marked by a contract signing ceremony today at Sprint’s Herndon, Va. offices involving Mr. Hou Weigui, chairman, ZTE Corporation, and Barry West, President, 4G Mobile Broadband, Sprint.

Sprint plans to make its WiMAX services commercially available to 100 million people in the U.S. by year end 2008. “We chose ZTE because we found the company to be a cutting-edge innovator backed by the engineering resources of an established, leading global brand,” said Mr. West. Read more

Tatara Systems Selected by Bell for Mobile Convergence Services

Tatara Systems today announced that Bell Mobility has selected Tatara Systems’ Mobile Services Convergence Platform to provide its customers with a secure and seamless mobile broadband connection solution.

Tatara’s Service Manager enables a laptop to access and connect to the Bell high-speed mobile data network wirelessly through a tethered handset, PC card, Wi-Fi Hotspot, or private Wi-Fi network. Bell clients can easily browse the Internet and access corporate networks, real-time email, files and applications. Read more

Alcatel-Lucent announces date for WiMAX media tutorial

Alcatel-Lucent announced today that Philippe Keryer, President of Alcatel-Lucent’s GSM/WiMAX activities will give a media tutorial titled :
“WiMAX, making universal broadband a reality” on July 16, 2007 at 4.00 PM Paris time (10 AM New York).

This media tutorial webcast will aim at discussing the WiMAX technology, which provides affordable broadband connectivity to all people and opens new market opportunities to complement both existing mobile and fixed broadband access. Read more

Unity Wireless Wins 4G Development Deal From North American Fortune 500 Wireless Manufacturer

Unity Wireless Corporation announced that it has been selected by one of North America’s largest wireless manufacturers to develop a new 4G, WiMAX-like (UMB - Ultra Mobile Broadband) mobile high speed data product for use in the client’s latest mobile broadband base station line, now under development. Unity received the purchase order for the first phase of this program earlier this week.

Rick Byrd, Vice President, Sales for Unity’s OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) group, commented, “Mobile broadband, or 4G, is the next big push in the wireless industry. Unity is now involved in several of the potential protocols, including WiMax and UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband). This latest opportunity is a scheduled development that will start with prototype phases, moving to limited production deployment and test in the Fall of 2007, with full production deliveries anticipated for early ‘08.” Read more

Will Mobile WiMAX Deliver Mobility?

Frost & Sullivan will host a conference call on Wednesday 11 July 2007 at 15.00 BST entitled “Will Mobile WiMAX deliver mobility?”. This live briefing will provide industry participants with an overview of the key challenges for Mobile WiMAX and will explore whether this emerging technology can create a significant impact on the mobile broadband industry.

A recently published Frost & Sullivan research service provides in-depth analysis of various mobile broadband wireless access technologies such as Mobile WiMAX, xMax and 3G LTE. The study evaluated whether delays pertaining to Wave 1 and Wave 2 WiMAX Forum certification for Mobile WiMAX and its inability to support mobile VoIP at vehicular speeds could pave the way for other competing technologies to take over the mobile broadband wireless access market. Read more

SR Telecom Receives C$45 Million Financing

SR Telecom Inc. announced that it has entered into an agreement with a syndicate of lenders comprised of shareholders and lenders of the Company providing for a term loan of up to $45.0 million, of which $35.0 million was drawn today and an additional $10.0 million will be available for drawdown for a period of up to one year from closing, subject to certain conditions. The term loan has a five-year term and is subject to the same security as the existing loans under the Company’s existing credit facility, but ranking senior to the existing loans. The term loan bears cash interest at a rate equal to the greater of 6.5% or the three-month US dollar LIBOR rate plus 3.85% and additional interest that may be paid in cash or in kind, at the option of the Company, at a rate equal to the greater of 7.5% or the three-month US dollar LIBOR rate plus 4.85%. The cash portion of the interest will be payable in kind until December 2008. A payout fee of 5% of the term loan will be paid to lenders upon repayment or maturity of the loan.

“The level of support we have received today from our shareholders and lenders is a strong indication of their ongoing belief in SR Telecom, its people, its products and its WiMAX strategy,” said Serge Fortin, SR Telecom’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “While it is clear that much remains to be done for SR Telecom to regain positive and sustainable momentum, these additional funds will enable us to execute on our growth strategy even though the delay in finalizing today’s announcement has had a negative impact on manufacturing schedules and deliveries, and will have an unfavourable effect on second and third quarter results.” Read more

picoChip Teams with Systems4Silicon to Further Support for Advanced Wireless and MIMO

picoChip announced today that it has added Systems4Silicon as an approved design center for its picoArray multi-core DSP. Systems4Silicon has a highly experienced team, capable of supporting customers with PHY, MIMO, PA linearization and RF design issues for advanced air interfaces applications, and already has considerable real-world experience with picoChip technology.

“Systems4Silicon is experienced in interpreting complex systems such as HSPA and WiMAX 802.16e. Their understanding of these standards, together with comprehensive knowledge of our architecture enables Systems4Silicon to offer clear time-to-market advantages to our customers,” said Guillaume d’Eyssautier, CEO and President at picoChip. “We are pleased to have them onboard to support the growing picoChip customer base.” Read more

Focus on the European Mobile Broadband Market: The Rise of HSPA Mobile Broadband

Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report related to the European telecommunication industry is now available to its catalog: The European Mobile Broadband Market

The European Mobile Broadband Market is a comprehensive report analyzing the rise of HSPA mobile broadband in Europe.

This strategic research report provides you with unique business intelligence and expert commentary on which to base your business decisions. Read more

Motorola Selected by SOFTBANK to Demonstrate UMTS/HSxPA Femto-cell Based Seamless Mobility

Motorola, Inc. announced this week that Japanese telecoms provider SOFTBANK MOBILE Corp. has selected Motorola’s Horizon 3G-i residential solution for its femto cellular media demonstration.

UMTS/HSxPA Femto node-Bs are small form-factor cellular base stations that can be used to provide indoor coverage for 3G UMTS/HSxPA users. Besides better coverage, Motorola’s advanced Horizon 3G-i residential solution will address the demand for fixed mobile convergence (FMC) that gives users a seamless mobility experience when moving between home and outdoor environments while using a single mobile handset. Read more

WiMAX Forum Announces Brazil Office, Appoints Director

The WiMAX Forum, an industry-led non-profit organization comprising more than 460 companies committed to promoting and certifying interoperable WiMAX products, today announced establishment of the WiMAX Forum Brazil Office in conjunction with appointment of the WiMAX Forum Brazil Director.

With the expanding interest in WiMAX technology and deployments in the region, in addition to active interest from WiMAX Forum’s Brazilian member companies, the WiMAX Forum has created a permanent presence in this market with the appointment of Brazil Director, Mr. Luiz C. Moraes Rego, faculty member of the Getulio Vargas Foundation Business School of Sao Paulo (FGV-EAESP). Read more