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Pakistan Plans Mobile WiMax Network Rollout

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the getting-the-country-online dept.

OneInEveryCrowd writes "Pakistan is apparently ready to move ahead of the USA in the deployment of a mobile wireless network." From the article: "The deployment is a milestone in the spread of WiMax, a superfast wireless technology that has a range of up to 30 miles and can deliver broadband at a theoretical maximum of 75 megabits per second. The 802.16-2004 standard, which is used in fixed WiMax networks, is being skipped in favor of a large-scale introduction of 802.16e, which was only recently agreed upon by the WiMax Forum. 'We made the decision 18 months ago to jump over (802.16-2004) and go straight to 802.16e,' Paul Sergeant, Motorola's marketing director for Motowi4, told ZDNet UK on Tuesday. 'We've been working on it for a while, which is how we're able to ship so soon after agreement.'"

8 of 165 comments (clear)

  1. With all this increased bandwith in Pakistab by nihilistcanada · · Score: 5, Funny

    Osama Bin Laden can finally now upgrade to higher quality video for his latest release.

  2. The NSA is happy by Harmonious+Botch · · Score: 3, Funny

    30 miles? Now they don't even need a presence on the ground, unless the antennas are very directional.

  3. Ahead of the US? by damian+cosmas · · Score: 4, Informative

    Hopefully this new wireless technology will help them crack the 50% literacy milestone. I'm sure the 4% of the population with internet access will really appreaciate it, though.

    1. Re:Ahead of the US? by wenchmagnet · · Score: 4, Insightful

      There are many challenges Pakistan faces, but this is progress... cheap wireless broadband access for the masses is GREAT! Whatever your preconcieved notions about Pakistan, the literacy rate in the urban areas is quite high and a LOT of people will benefit from this.

      It also helps in getting the literacy rate up as more people take an interest in becoming literate. You might not believe it but many rural communities can limp along quite well without any need for widespread literacy - this will change that by showing them a bigger wider world that is out there for them to explore once they start to read!

      Broadband internet access means access to a multitude of different views which means its a counter against fundamentalism and brainwashing.

      As a Pakistani, I am very excited about this!

  4. Just so I understand: by DysenteryInTheRanks · · Score: 5, Funny
    I want to make sure I understand this correctly: Osama bin Laden is about to get faster broadband Internet on his laptop in some mud hut in Pakistan than I could possibly buy at home in the U.S.?

    p0wn3d, man. Fucking p0wn3d.

  5. -1 redundant... by Duncan3 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    "ready to move ahead of the USA"

    We get it already, 30% of high school kids drop out, our President has an IQ of 60, and smart kids are beaten in the streets, what the hell do you expect?

    --
    - Adam L. Beberg - The Cosm Project - http://www.mithral.com/
    1. Re:-1 redundant... by suv4x4 · · Score: 4, Insightful

      We get it already, 30% of high school kids drop out, our President has an IQ of 60, and smart kids are beaten in the streets, what the hell do you expect?

      War with Iran by the end of the year. Was this the right answer?

      (what do I win btw?)

  6. Not just for the Internet by cam762 · · Score: 3, Informative
    WiMAX 802.16e isn't used just for Internet connectivity, but also competes against cellular technologies (GSM/UMTS and CDMA2000) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wimax#Similar_technol ogies

    While 802.16e is mainly a mobile technology, it also supports "Fixed" access and mesh networking, which means that signals can be relayed from one access point to another instead of needing to hardwire every connection.

    This should help implementation and penetration of the region by reducing the overall amount of infrastructure required.