Wimax will bridge digital divide: Intel

WiMax (Worldwide Interoperability of Microwave Access), a standards-based technology enabling the delivery of last mile wireless broadband access over long distances, will be the best solution for bridging the digital divide in India, said Patrick P Gelsinger, senior VP and chief technology officer, Intel, in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Delivering the keynote address at the sixth Intel Developer Forum in India, Gelsinger said: "The appeal to emerging markets is striking to say the least. Imagine being able to put up an antenna and provide high-speed Internet to thousands of customers who have little access to the Internet or even wired phones today. That has great promise in countries like India where the cost of wiring the countries would make broadband Internet access far too expensive."

Today, last mile connections are made through cable, DSL (digital subscriber line), fibre optic connections and even standard phone lines. The ability to provide these connections wirelessly, without laying wire or cable in the ground, greatly lowers the cost of these services and WiMAX offers this specific solution.

Intel is working with the wireless industry to drive the deployment of WiMAX networks and has also announced the first integrated system-on-a-chip optimised for cost-effective customer premise equipment design.

Said Gelsinger: "We had a series of meetings with government officials in India for allocation of bandwidth for these services and the response has been encouraging."

Intel sees WiMAX deploying in three phases: the first phase will provide fixed wireless connections via outdoor antennas in the first half of 2005. Outdoor fixed wireless can be used for high-throughput enterprise connections, hotspot cellular network backhaul, and premium residential services.

In the second half of 2005, WiMAX will be available for indoor installation, with smaller antennas similar to a Wi-Fi access point today.

In this model, WiMAX will be available in consumer residential broadband deployments, as these devices become "user installable." By 2006, the technology will be integrated into mobile computers to support roaming between WiMAX service area.