Chunghwa Telecom, Alcatel-Lucent to Build WiMAX Net in Taiwan

By Johanne Torres

TMCnet Contributing Editor

 

Service provider Chunghwa Telecom selected Alcatel (News - Alert)-Lucent to deploy what the companies call Taiwan's first Universal WiMAX (802.16e-2005) network. The new network will enable Chunghwa's customers in the central commercial district of Taoyuan county to access applications such as high-speed Internet, video streaming and VoIP using their laptops, computers, modems or wireless handheld terminals.

 

Via the development of this new network, the companies expect to fuel their Mobile Taiwan (M-Taiwan) project, which brings wireless broadband service available across the island; as well as the introduction of applications such as remote medical services and e-learning for use by county residents.

 

“Alcatel-Lucent is a leading proponent of Universal WiMAX technology and committed early to developing it,” commented Frederic Rose, president for Alcatel-Lucent's Asia Pacific region, in a statement.

 

Rose continued: “The experience we have acquired along the way has enabled us to develop a solution that is stable, scalable and offers a clear migration path to future applications. Customers such as Chunghwa Telecom (News - Alert) are confident in our solution and are partnering with us to provide their users with access to high-speed wireless applications.”

 

According to Alcatel-Lucent, the new network will fully comply with the IEEE 802.16e-2005 (also called Rev-e) standard for fixed, nomadic and mobile usage. The new contract calls for Alcatel-Lucent to provide its WiMAX system, which comprises the 2X2 multiple input/multiple output (MIMO) technology, used to increase capacity and coverage. Alcatel-Lucent will also provide Chunghwa Telecom with multi-vendor network integration services, engineering and installation support.

 

Today's news follows Alcatel-Lucent's commercial WiMAX 802.16e-2005 deployments in Latin America and the Caribbean including a major deployment in Chile.

 

Alcatel-Lucent was also tapped this week by the city of Paris to supply and integrate an urban WiFi network with French mobile operator SFR. The companies plan to launch the new network during the third quarter of this year.

 

The newly inked agreement calls for Alcatel-Lucent to integrate and deploy a WiFi (News - Alert) network, which SFR will operate, monitor and maintain. SFR also agreed to provide the customer service and the Web portal for the new WiFi network. The WiFi network will allow the city of Paris to offer broadband wireless access to Internet in 400 new access points. Access to WiFi services around the city will be free of charge for citizens and visitors.