Alcatel makes Start in Russian WiMAX market

and Russian service provider Start Telecom announced on 7 February that they have signed an agreement to conduct a field trial of WiMAX equipment starting this month.

Under the terms of this agreement, Alcatel will provide Start Telecom with its WiMAX end-to-end solution, including base station equipment and indoor CPEs (Customer Premises Equipment). Alcatel's solution will provide broadband wireless Internet access at a burst rate of up to 12 Mbps, within a distance that can exceed 10 kilometres from the WiMAX base station for selected customers.

WiMAX is a set of standards aimed at providing broadband connectivity through wireless networks for fixed, nomadic or mobile use in urban and rural areas. It can offer broadband access where DSL is unavailable for technical or economical reasons, or an alternative to unbundling for operators who are offering a combination of voice and broadband access offers.

Start Telecom say that based on the results of this trial they intend to work further with Alcatel to be the first service provider to introduce WiMAX technology in the Russian market.