Date:13/01/2007 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2007/01/13/stories/2007011301340400.htm

Back WiMAX roll-out in Bangalore

Our Bureau

Bangalore, Jan. 12

Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd will be rolling out WiMAX service extensively in Bangalore by June, where the company had already tested a live pilot successfully. WiMAX enables broadband connectivity overcoming the hurdle of absence of last mile connection. VSNL hopes to roll out the technology in other parts of the country by the second half of 2007. "We already have 12 to 15 live sites in Bangalore, which were a part of pilots run in small enterprises," said Mr Srinivasa Addepalli, Vice-President, Corporate Strategy.

Mr Addeppalli said WiMAX was set to play a crucial role in providing the connectivity to portable computer and mobile devices. He said by 2009 WiMAX is expected to be integrated into computers or laptops enabling the technology to become pervasive.Unlike BSNL and MTNL, with their historic advantage of having the last mile capability, private telephony operators were faced with this limitation. WiMAX could narrow this gap enabling them to attain larger penetration in the broadband space, Mr Addeppalli said.