TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Bellsouth to Launch Wireless Broadband Service

Bellsouth to Launch Wireless Broadband Service

Lisa Minter (lisa_minter2001@yahoo.com)
Tue, 7 Jun 2005 12:12:25 -0500

BellSouth Corp., the No. 3 U.S. local telephone company, said on
Tuesday it would launch a wireless high-speed Internet service for
residential customers based on an early version of the WiMax
technology backed by Intel Corp.

BellSouth and other telecommunications companies have been testing
WiMax as a cheaper alternative for connecting hard-to-reach customers
or replacing more expensive wired data links.

BellSouth said it would offer the service starting in August in
Athens, Georgia, and would expand to several cities in Florida later
this year.

The company did not release details on prices or data speeds for the
service.

Intel, the world's largest chip maker, is pushing WiMax as a way to
spread cheap yet ubiquitous wireless broadband access, as well as a
future driver of chips and notebook computer sales.

With Intel's muscle behind the WiMax push, some 240 companies have
joined the industry group developing standards and equipment.

Certified WiMax equipment has yet to go on sale, but several companies
sell "pre-WiMax" gear based on early versions of the
standards. BellSouth said its service would use equipment from
privately-owned Navini Networks.

Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited.

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