As If Throwing Up A WiMax Network Were That Easy
from the good-luck-there dept
What is it about sprinkling the word WiMax into a conversation about wireless networks that makes people think that all the hard stuff takes care of itself? A few weeks ago there was a lot of buzz about Rupert Murdoch's DirecTV getting into the wireless broadband game (which followed a similar rumor from late last year). Broadband Reports is pointing to a story that says not only will DirecTV be using WiMax technology for this wireless broadband offering, but it will be teaming up with competitor EchoStar to build the network. There's nothing wrong with the two competitors teaming up to set up the network, since both realize they're actually in competition with the cable companies and the telcos. However, it's still not exactly clear how this will work. The article makes it sound so simple: they'll use WiMax! As if that's all it takes. They don't say what flavor of WiMax. Will it be fixed or mobile? Mobile WiMax won't really be ready for probably another two years, so that would be difficult. Fixed WiMax is a decent solution for backhaul, but probably not great as a DSL replacement -- and it, too, isn't exactly ready yet. While some equipment has been certified, it's only for spectrum that isn't available in the US. Eventually equipment for other spectrum will be certified, but that raises a bigger question: what spectrum will DirecTV/EchoStar use for this network? Buying enough licensed spectrum to cover the US would be a lot more expensive than the $1 billion they apparently want to spend. Using unlicensed spectrum sounds good in theory, but is much more difficult in practice, because you have to deal with lots of interference questions. There are plenty of doubts about how well a commercial service would do using unlicensed spectrum for WiMax. So, while it's nice for the two companies to team up and say "we'll use WiMax" there are some very real issues that need to be worked out before anyone looks at this as a serious competitor. It would be great to have another competitor on the market -- but it's not clear it's really going to come from these satellite TV companies.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
On a some what unrelated note...
Fast foreward a couple years and "Wirelessly" gets tagged on...
Anyone seen any new patent submissions with "Via Wi-Max" tacked on yet?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No Subject Given
1.) Announce WiMax network plans
2.)
3.) Profit!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Unlicencsed WiMax
Although this is generally the case, there are exceptions, such as our own, where interference from other networks is not likely top be a problem for most of the time!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]