Unwired launch corporate WiMAX service

The service, which uses Redline hardware and operates in licensed 3.5 GHz spectrum, is available in selected geographies and as two product offerings.

Max Plus Contended enables symmetrical speeds from 2Mbps to 10Mbps, a usage allowance between 30GB and 1TB, and a maximum uplink speed of 5Mbps.

The Uncontended version offers symmetrical and asymmetrical speeds from 2Mbps to 100Mbps, an unlimited usage allowance and maximum uplink speeds of 100Mbps.

The service does, however, require additional equipment to be installed at Unwired’s existing 70 base stations ‘so the approach to market will be focused on each geographic area as opportunities are realised’, the company said.

The first base station with services enabled is located in the Hills District in Sydney’s north-west.

Unwired CEO David Spence has repeatedly used the fact that the service runs on licensed spectrum as a differentiator to the rival service run by Clever Communications, which operates in an unlicensed spectrum band.

Dedicated spectrum costs tens of millions of dollars to secure; however its supporters such as Unwired claim it enables them to assure a better quality-of-service because they have complete control over the number of people using that spectrum in a certain geographic space.

“We believe the benefits of dedicated spectrum will become increasingly apparent as shared spectrum gets congested,” said Spence.

Spence also confirmed that Unwired would rely on its value-added reseller channel to drive growth for this new service.

“We really do believe the channel is the way to get into this market,” Spence said.

“We believe in dealing through the channel because they know the customer’s requirements well, so that’s what we’ll be sticking to.”