iBurst revealed it is currently conducting commercial feasibility studies on WiMax in preparation for its planned deployment of the technology in South Africa by 2007. The wireless broadband provider said it has "applied for and been issued with WiMax spectrum by the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA)." Other similar companies like Telkom, Sentech,...

The 2006 Webtorials "WLAN State-of-the-Market" report indicates that companies consider Wi-Fi and VPNs as the most important network technologies to have in the next 18 months. Laptops and PDAs, meanwhile, lead the list of basic client products that are necessary to deploy a WLAN. The survey also reveals that WiFi coverage is no longer confined...

Linksys unveiled its new line of networking products for small enterprises. The Wireless-N series includes an access point, a security router with a VPN, and a CardBus adapter for laptops. It uses the 802.11n wireless draft specification, which promises longer ranges and higher throughput. Linksys is selling the Wireless-N access point and laptop adapter for...

Boston wants a non-profit group to manage the proposed citywide WiFi network, thus allowing it to promote technological innovation without having to spend taxpayers' money. Under the proposal, the non-profit group will raise the money through donations and possibly equity and debt financing, sell network service at wholesale prices, and let other entities offer free...

Some cities in Southern California cannot deploy wireless Internet networks because Southern California Edison Co. has failed to act on requests for access to its poles and electricity. Douglas H. Kim, general manager of Edison's carrier solutions, said the power utility needs to "understand the technology better" before it endorses any plan to build these...

Nokia has began a trial of unlicensed mobile access or UMA in Oulu near the polar circle in northern Finland. Subscribers with UMA-enabled handsets can make Internet calls when they are within the coverage of an unlicensed wireless network such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. When they leave such range, the calls will automatically shift to...

WiFi vendors are expressing concerns over AMD's plans to acquire ATI Technologies. The perception is that AMD will follow the "Centrino" route, which involved a bundle of an Intel-manufactured processor, chipset, and Wi-Fi card. Dirk Meyer, the president and chief operating officer of AMD, dismissed the concerns, assuring that the company has no plans of...

Motorola and Softbank Group are teaming up to install a WiMax trial network in Tokyo. Under the agreement, Motorola will supply the necessary equipment such as access points, an access network, and prototype WiMax mobile handheld devices while Softbank -- a provider of mobile communications, fixed-line telecommunications and fixed-line broadband services to 26 million subscribers...

SoCal FreeNet is entering its fourth year in August. It evolved from being a San Diego-based discussion group to a volunteer organization that has launched 15 successful free public WiFi networks. Although unpaid for rendering technical support, core members remain committed to their mission of creating free access. In the future, they hope to see...

A new study by Instat indicates a growing interest in WiMax in Asia Pacific. According to the analyst firm, WiMax will become a $4.3 billion market in the region by 2011, a big leap from the 2006 level of $106.4 million. In-Stat analyst Victor Liu said "no Asia Pacific service provider can ignore WiMax ......

Ofcom is studying a proposal to increase power limits for the 2.4GHz band and for fixed wireless links in the 5.8GHz lightly licensed band. The U.K. regulator is leaning towards raising the limit to 10W from 100mW in both spectra. Its sentiment ensued from an Ofcom-commissioned study, which found no issue against moving forward with...

Intel has unveiled Rosedale II, the company's first chip that supports mobile Wimax. The firm, according to Chris Beardsmore, Intel's market development manager for Europe, will conduct commercial trials of the new silicon in Europe by the end of 2006. Beardsmore expects Rosedale II to expand the user base of Intel's WiMax solutions. Beardsmore said:...

Michael Calabrese, a vice-president at the New America Foundation, has proposed opening up "white space" or unused spectrum between TV channels to boost the availability and coverage of WiFi in the U.S. Calabrese argued that "white space" provides "beachfront" spectrum, a low frequency spectrum ideal for WiFi, which needs to operate on very low power...

CenturyTel is looking to set up a public-access wireless internet network in Vail Village, a ski town in Colorado. But before the communications provider can do that, it must ensure that the 84 nodes - cylindrical metal objects nearly 3-feet tall and 1-foot in diameter - that it plans to intall must not spoil the...

Avalcom, a leading systems integrator in Russia, plans to undertake a massive trial of WiMax installations in the country over the next three months. The company will use Aperto Networks' PacketMAX products including PacketMAX 5000 carrier class base station and the PacketMAX 100 CPE for its pilot projects in different regions in Russia. Participating in...