WiMAX Development in Asia December 29, 2008 – January 4, 2009
December 31, 2008
- Korea's Samsung Electronics recently revealed that the company is developing mobile phone baseband chipsets for both mobile WiMAX and LTE (Long Term Evolution), EE Times reported on December 29. Samsung's mobile WiMAX chipsets have already been sampled to both internal and external engineers. Meanwhile, Samsung has also stepped up its involvement in LTE development. The company expects to launch its first LTE mobile phone chipset in the first half of 2009. The company also intends to beat its archrival LG to the commercialization of LTE phones.
- According to a December 24 report by The Korea Times, the KCC (Korea Communications Commission) has approved of a voice-over-WiMAX standard, enabling Korean WiBro (Wireless Broadband) operators to offer voice services. WiBro is the Korean equivalent of WiMAX. However, since the commencement of commercial services in 2006, Korean WiBro operators have been able to offer data services only and have thus garnered a limited subscriber base. It is expected that with the formulation of voice-over-WiMAX standard and hence the capability to offer Internet telephony services, Korean WiBro operators including KT and SK Telecom will see further expansion in their subscriber base.
- The Jakarta Post reported on December 28 that the Indonesian government plans to implement a WiMAX network in 2009 to facilitate nationwide Internet access. Currently the Indonesian government is testing the 2.3GHz frequency. Moreover, it is reported that the government will seek to promote the use of domestic WiMAX-enabled devices.