- Intel has injected an investment of US$43
million into Japanese WiMAX carrier UQ Communications, Washington Post reported
on June 9. It is reported that UQ Communications will leverage the investment
to expand is WiMAX service in Japan. By 2012, UQ Communications expects to
boost the nationwide coverage of its WiMAX network to 90%. Official launch of the
company's WiMAX service in Japan is slated for July 1, 2009. Other major
stakeholders in UQ Communications include KDDI, Kyocera, railway operator JR East,
and Tokyo Mitsubishi Bank.
In other Japanese WiMAX-related news, Toshiba,
Panasonic, and Onkyo are expected to soon start shipments of notebook PCs incorporating
Intel's Centrino technology and WiMAX receiver module, according to a June 9
report by PC Magazine. It is reported that these notebook PCs are specifically
designed targeting the Japanese market.
- Intel has collaborated with Globe Telecom of the
Philippines to roll out commercial WiMAX service in the country, according to a
June 11 report by ABS-CBN News of the Philippines. According to said report,
Globe Telecom's WiMAX service is the first commercially available in the
Philippines. At present, Globe Telecom's WiMAX service is available in the
following regions: Camanava, Cavite, Batangas, Laguna, and Quezon in Luzon;
Cebu Province, Bacolod, Dumaguete, and Silay City in the Visayas; and Cagayan
de Oro City in Mindanao.
- Following the MOU (Memorandum of
Understanding) inked on April 24, 2009, Taiwanese WiMAX carrier Vee Telecom
Multimedia plans to sign a formal contract with Clearwire of the United States
on June 16, thereby sealing the two companies' strategic partnership on WiMAX,
Taiwan's Economic Daily News reported on June 11. It is expected that Clearwire
will station management staff in Taiwan to help Vee Telecom Multimedia achieve
the goal of launching WiMAX service at year-end 2009.