|
ICE Awards Major Contract
to Furnish Large WiMAX
NetworkAirspan Networks, Inc., a
leading worldwide provider of
WiMAX and Wi-Fi based broadband
wireless access networks, and
carrier class
Voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP)
solutions, today announced that
the Instituto Costarricense de
Electricidad (ICE) has awarded
Airspan through its local
partner, Datatell contract to
build a nationwide WiMAX network
in the licensed 3.5Ghz frequency
band.
The project is one of the most
ambitious and comprehensive
WiMAX networks planned for
deployment in Latin America in
2007, and it is expected
eventually to cover all major
population centers in Costa
Rica.
ICE, the state owned monopoly on
telecommunications in Costa
Rica, offers a wide range of
fixed and mobile networks and
data telecommunications
services. The company, which
owns significant 3.5GHz
frequency spectrum, awarded the
contract through formal bidding
and rigorous selection processes
conducted in 2006 among various
international WiMAX vendors.
The Airspan-Datatell bid, which
included a detailed technology
evaluation, radio frequency
planning, capacity designs,
local services, network support
and implementation, was judged
by ICE to be the best bid
submitted.
The network deployment is
scheduled to begin early in the
second half of 2007, with the
network to begin to be
operational by year end. The
network will serve enterprise
and other customers that demand
high-grade IP-based data
services in Costa Rica's urban
areas.
The core network will be based
on Airspan's cutting-edge
HiperMAX WiMAX platform.
During the first phase of the
network roll out, Airspan will
supply more than 400 of its
world leading HiperMAX base
stations. The project also calls
for Airspan-Datatell to improve
ICE's backbone network
infrastructure to increase data
capacity, and to provide
implementation services.
The first phase of the project,
including local integration and
services, is valued at
approximately us$11 million, of
which Airspan equipment and
services will comprise
approximately sixty percent.
ICE. has indicated that it may
expand the network in the future
for added functionality or
broader geographical coverage.
|
|
