Australia to Become WiMax Testbed

shrewd writes "AU News site Whirlpool has news on a huge AUD $37 million investment by Intel in a WiMax project. From the article: 'Australia will become the world's testbed for WiMAX - Intel's wireless broadband technology - with the announcement that the chip giant will invest AUD $37million in the expansion of the Unwired network in Australia ... Unwired CEO David Spence said the investment will make WiMAX an absolutely mainstream technology. 'Unwired will be in the unique position of having access to the majority of the WiMAX-designated 3.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz licensed bands in Australia's major metropolitan areas,' Spence said.'"

Comments

WIMAX

[CSHARP123]

Unwired's service will be available to 66% of the population

Until somebody comes onboard and provides the same kind of service, talk about monopoly.

Huge?

[rlp]

37 million AUD ($27 million US) would be a huge investment if it came out of my bank account (which would then be very much overdrawn). Coming from a company the size of Intel, it is NOT a huge investment in a new technology.

Re:Huge?

[Nos.]

True, but Intel has made huge investments in WiMax. They've got the first chips undergoing testing for certification right now. They've dedicated a lot of time and man power to it and this is just a continuation of that investment. In fact, depending on how you look at it, this is almost more marketing than anything else.

AOL and others should take heed

[bigwavejas]

Is there any doubt in someones mind that WiFi or WiMax is going to eventually permiate the metropolitan areas of the world and offer free access? Recently San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom announced a plan to provide WiFi for San Francisco.

Companies like AOL and other dial-up or broadband types should start thinking about alternative methods for bringing in revenue, because their market is quickly diminishing.

Re:AOL and others should take heed

[ScentCone]

Is there any doubt in someones mind that WiFi or WiMax is going to eventually permiate the metropolitan areas of the world and offer free access?

Yes, there is doubt. In fact, there is 100% certainty that it will not happen. Because it will not, and can not, be free. Someone has to pay for it. If your vision is correct (however badly described), I'd say that entity would be... people and businesses who pay taxes. Or, it will be indirectly so, by showing up as more arcane usage fees on your cell phone and cable bills. There is no "free" wireless service! It's not sunshine. Companies ("like AOL and other dial-up or broadband types") will be the ones providing this service, or companies like them, either directly, or through contracts with municipal or other governments. You say the market is dimishing, I say it's just re-arranging. But what about the millions that live in rural areas, or those that are out of line-of-site for these city-centered services? Traditional ISPs, in one form or another, will be around for a long, long time. Non-traditional ISPs will become the traditional, but someone still has to pay for the hardware, the people, the systems, the security, etc. Not free! Never will be - any more than tap water is, or electricity.

Do Pass Go and Collect $$$

[Nom du Keyboard]

Unwired CEO David Spence said the investment will make WiMAX an absolutely mainstream technology. 'Unwired will be in the unique position of having access to the majority of the WiMAX-designated 3.5 GHz and 2.3 GHz licensed bands in Australia's major metropolitan areas,' Spence said.'"

Most monopolies do make whatever they touch a mainstream technology. Looks like competition will be scarce here however.

Intel gobbles again...,

[ViaNRG]

Does it frighten anyone else to know that Intel may be publicizing themselves as the brainchild of WiMAX?

WiMax, not really that new.

[Anonymous Coward]

Verizon wireless has started setting up high speed data wireless networks up in several areas of the US. Other companies have done the same. I'm not sure they're the same thing as WiMax, but they are starting to pop up in highly populated areas all over.