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Pipex Wireless WiMAX trial
performance exceeds expectations
Other Topics: WiMAX Smart Antenna,
Best of WiMAX World Nominations
Pipex Wireless
August 15, 2006
Pipex Wireless, a joint venture between Pipex (AIM:PXC.L) and Intel
Corporation focused on developing and providing wireless services,
announced that it has successfully completed the latest phase of its
WiMAX trial in Stratford-upon-Avon. Working with wireless solutions
provider, Airspan Networks (AIRN - NASDAQ), the trials have tested Pipex
Wireless’ WiMAX-based broadband services in a number of locations, with
uplink speeds particularly impressive.
Performance has been evaluated using both indoor and outdoor antennae,
powered by Intel Rosedale chipsets, with the trial showing that WiMAX
can deliver near symmetric services in most environments. This will mean
that businesses and home users will benefit from being able to send
content such as email attachments and large files at the same speed as
typical broadband downloads. |
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“WiMAX is an exciting
opportunity for Pipex and we’re delighted that the tests have been
completed and successfully shown the technology’s potential,” said Mike
Read, CEO of Pipex. “In our next stage, we are undertaking commercial
trials delivering end-to-end WiMAX services with a number of local
authorities and live customers.”
Airspan's CTO, Alastair Westgarth, commented, "We are pleased to have
our WiMAX platform solution as part of the Pipex WiMAX trial. It has
given us the opportunity to prove that our Software Defined Radio base
station and indoor, self install CPE fit the needs of a solid WiMAX
service provider such as Pipex. The combination of range and throughput
demonstrated by the achievements to date are very encouraging and
provide an added baseline for our continuing product development of this
platform."
Pipex Wireless was created in April 2006 by Pipex and Intel Capital,
Intel Corporation’s venture arm, to develop unique fixed and portable
broadband wireless services for consumers and business customers in the
UK. The company intends to announce additional trial deployments in 2006
and roll out new services in several major metro areas in 2007.
Internal antenna performance
Speeds in excess of 2Mbps up and down have been achieved indoors at a
range of 1.2km from the base station with no direct line of sight. Drive
tests using the indoor antenna in a vehicle at various distances from
the base station have shown symmetric speeds of 5Mbps.
External antenna performance
Speeds of 10Mbps down and 9Mbps up have been achieved to external
antennas at the test house at 1.2km from the base station. Longer range
tests with external antennas have achieved 6Mbps down and 4Mbps up at a
range of 6km from the base station.
About Airspan Networks
Airspan Networks (AIRN - NASDAQ) provides fixed and wireless voice and
data systems and solutions, including Voice Over IP (VoIP). Its wireless
products serve operators around the world in both licensed and
unlicensed frequency bands between 700 MHz and 6 GHz, including both PCS
and 3.5GHz international bands. Airspan has a strong wireless product
roadmap that includes offerings compliant with the 802.11 a/b/g and the
WiMAX 802.16-2004 standard, including software upgradeability to Mobile
WiMAX (the 802.16e-2005 standard). Airspan is on the Board and is a
founder member of the WiMAX Forum and a member of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
The Company has deployments with more than 350 operators in more than
100 countries. Airspan’s wireless systems are based on radio technology
that delivers excellent area coverage, high security and resistance to
fading. These systems can be deployed rapidly and cost effectively,
providing an attractive alternative to traditional wired communications
networks.
Airspan’s new AS.Tone VoIP system is a carrier class, turnkey solution
that provides carriers with Class 4, Class 5 and IP-Centrex solutions
and has a Softswitch and Gateways supporting SIP/H323 and SIP. AS.Tone’s
design provides customers, carriers, next-generation telcos, cellular
providers and ITSP with a wide range of solutions with the best
price/performance system for IP telephony. Airspan also offers radio
planning, network installation, integration, training and support
services to facilitate the deployment and operation of its systems.
Airspan is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida with its main operations
center in Uxbridge, United Kingdom.
More information on Airspan can be found at http://www.airspan.com
About Pipex Communications plc
Pipex is a multiple award-winning provider of integrated
telecommunications and Internet services. With a broad customer base
including small/home-offices and blue chip companies, Pipex provides a
comprehensive range of consumer, business and corporate voice,
broadband, security domain name registration and shared and dedicated
hosting solutions.
Pipex’s focus is simple: enabling businesses and consumers to achieve
their aspirations through proven communications services and emerging
technologies. This is achieved through an extensive portfolio of
high-speed Internet connectivity, managed services and hosting, security
and voice products - combining exceptional performance, innovation and a
commitment to customer service.
Owning one of the UK’s most extensive communication networks, Pipex
boasts more than 100 Points of Presence (PoPs) nationwide. In addition,
state-of-the-art data centres, which are manned and monitored 24x7,
ensure the security of Pipex’s customers’ business critical
applications. Its commitment to investing in its technology
infrastructure ensures that Pipex continues to deliver the most
scalable, resilient, secure and reliable services.
For further information please visit www.pipex.com
About Intel Capital
Intel Capital, Intel’s venture capital organization, makes equity
investments in innovative technology start-ups and companies worldwide.
Intel Capital invests in a broad range of companies offering hardware,
software and services targeting enterprise, home, mobility, health,
consumer Internet and semiconductor manufacturing. Since 1991, Intel
Capital has invested more than US$4 billion in more than 1,000 companies
spanning more than 30 countries. During this time, about 160 portfolio
companies have been acquired and another 150 have gone public on
exchanges around the world. In 2005, Intel Capital invested about US$265
million in about 140 deals with approximately 60 percent of funds
invested outside the United States.
For more information on Intel Capital and its differentiated advantages,
visit www.intelcapital.com.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Elizabeth West
Berkeley Public Relations
Tel: 01629 826942
Email: elizabethw@berkeleyprnorth.co.uk
Web: www.berkeleypr.co.uk |
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