Clearwire's Tabassi: WiMAX Deployments to Double by 2010

Following a major announcement yesterday that Clearwire launched its CLEAR 4G WiMAX service in 10 new markets, industry icon Ali Tabassi (News - Alert) addressed a standing-room only crowd at an afternoon keynote presentation at ITEXPO West on Wednesday, highlighting the growth potential for WiMax and its significant expansion into the 4G ecosystem.

 

Tabassi, who is the senior vice president of global ecosystem and standards for Clearwire, said that the strength of WiMax is not just in the technology, but the right environment has to be created for existing devices to adapt.

 

“We know very well it’s not just about building a network, it’s also about having the right applications,” Tabassi said.

 

There are 470 WiMax deployments today covering 430 million users, a figure expected to double to 800 million by 2010, according to Abassi. CLEAR is based on WiMAX 4G technology, which provides service areas measured in miles, not feet. In its 14 new markets, the Clearwire network relies on an area-wide WiMAX radio system from Motorola (News - Alert).Use of advanced WiMAX technology allows for improved flexibility and range for customers, Tabassi told the packed room at the Los Angeles Convention Center.

 

On Tuesday – the kick-off of ITEXPO (News - Alert) West – Clearwire announced it will expand the brand’s mobile Internet service area to a total of 14 markets and more than 10 million people. The markets include: Bellingham, Wash; Boise, Idaho and eight Texas markets – Abilene, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Killeen/Temple, Lubbock, Midland/Odessa, Waco and Wichita Falls, which officially offers consumers and businesses access to the Internet wirelessly at “true” broadband speeds - at home, in the office and on the go anywhere in the CLEAR coverage area.

 

During his keynote, Tabassi announced Clearwire has plans to expand into larger networks in the next year, including the metro markets of New York, Las Vegas, and Atlanta – ultimately reaching up to 120 million people in the next 12 months. Tabassi also said Clearwire will launch the Silicon Valley WiMax Innovative Network, which will initially cover more than 20 square miles in Silicon Valley and bring 4G wireless service to campuses of some of the world's leading technology innovators including early participants Google Inc., Intel Corporation, and a leading educational institution in Silicon Valley. Cisco (News - Alert) will provide core Internet Protocol Next-Generation Network infrastructure equipment in support of the WiMAX Innovation Network.

 

In an effort to support the U.S. government’s objectives to bring affordable broadband services to more Americans, Clearwire also announced this week that it applied for a “modest” amount of broadband stimulus funds to bring new service to underserved areas within Detroit and Puerto Rico, two areas that were not otherwise part of Clearwire’s current business plan.

 

Tabassi has over 20 years of experience in the development, integration, and operation of wireless solutions in the telecommunications, networking, and IP industries. Prior to joining Clearwire in 2008, Tabassi was acting CTO and vice president of technology development and architecture for Sprint Nextel (News - Alert), responsible for leading the development of technology, network, systems architecture and evolution strategies.