Aircel launches WiMAX technology , Chennai goes Wireless

Aircel Business Solutions (ABS), a unit of Aircel, has launched its wireless Internet services in Chennai using Worldwide Interoperability for MicrowaveAccess, popularly known as the WiMAX technology, which enables 'last mile' connectivity using 'near line of site' (NLOS) wireless equipment."Initially, ABS aims to make Chennai 'wire free' using WiMAX technology enabling wireless Internet connectivity for SME, enterprise and residential use," said Ram Shinde, Senior Vice President, Aircel Business Solutions. "ABS is also positive about the commercial viability and acceptance of WiMAX across varied user profiles and geographies considering the substantial growth rate of Internet subscribers in recent times."

ABS said that as of now, it can provide pan-city coverage (more than 90%) across commercial areas in Chennai and has already enabled wireless connectivity for SME and Enterprise clients through WiMAX based on 802.16d standards at a speed range of 2 Mbps to 10 Mbps. This would help the end user to stay connected to the Internet and Intranet with high uptime. These WiMAX deployments use NLOS wherein the customer premises equipment (CPE) does not have to face the base station (BTS). The forthcoming 802.16e standard will be even capable of mobile Internet.The company has also deployed WiMAX Networks beyond Chennai with limited coverage in many other prominent Indian cities such as Coimbatore, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Pune, Delhi, Cochin and Ahmedabad and would extend its pan-city coverage in a phased manner. Apart from these, ABS also plans to WiMAX another 26 cities in the near future."For the past three years, a dedicated team of ABS professionals have been doing rigorous research at our WiMAX Expertise Center at Chennai, in terms of technological, commercial and operational feasibility, and arrived at a blue-print for the WiMAX launch," said Shinde. "A systematic approach along with our commitment to deliverables and ability to constantly come up with cutting-edge solutions has enabled ABS to make an early entry into the WiMAX domain."With WiMAX, end users can have Internet accessibility based on portable technologies at an affordable price. WiMAX is unaffected by environmental or climatic disturbances and provides relief to organizations from 'last mile' connectivity concerns both in urban and rural areas with limited network infrastructure.

ABS said its backend systems and processes (OSS/BSS) are highly sophisticated with end-to-end manageability from Sales Prospecting to Order Management and Internet Protocol (IP) Provisioning. All these systems are developed in-house and have the capability to accommodate future business requirements of ABS.

The company is also identifying and deploying Wi-Fi 'hotspots' throughout the Chennai city with indoor and outdoor points backhauled with WiMAX. Internet services at these 'hotspots' will be enabled through pre-paid cards integrated with Payment Gateways for on-line registration and subsequently activated using the 'Authentication, Authorization and Accounting' (AAA) mechanism."With several state governments planning to create wireless cities to increase Internet penetration besides initiating e-governance projects, Aircel is keen to be part of the wireless revolution in India not only by offering wireless Internet access through WiMAX, but also by providing a gamut of best-of-the-breed enterprise services on WiMAX platform with built-in service level agreements (SLAs)," said Shinde.

Source : IT News Online