WiMAX Demo Sends Strong Signal

June 22, 2006

A demonstration of WiMax technology transmitting live video footage from a racing yacht achieved a transmission distance of 40 kilometres, showing great promise for true mobile broadband.

The technology demonstration, carried out by WiMAX Telecom Group took place at the World Sailing Championships in Austria.

The yacht set a new record for long distance WiMAX transmission used a wireless broadband connection to relay live video footage up to 40 kilometres away.

It was reportedly the first time anyone had even attempted to send live video footage via WiMax from a moving vehicle, let alone a yacht moving at 12 knots.

The demonstration shows promise for service such as VoIP where WiMAX couldbe used to replace expensive satellite links to achieve broadband access.

WiMAX Telecom Group was awarded licensed frequencies (3.5 GHz) in Croatia in 2005. It holds national licences in Austria and Slovakia, where its active networks already serve several thousand customers, and has licenses in key regions of Croatia, where the company plans to deploy its network at the end of 2006.

Next year, it will expand its wireless broadband network in this coastal region using the 802.16e protocols. But the company has thje rest of Europe in its sights with branches in Switzerland, Austria, Slovakia and Croatia making WiMAX Telecom the only independent, multinational provider of WiMax services.