Mobile WiMAX coming to Russia

Russian Telecommunications Holding Comstar United Telesystems (Comstar UTS) assisted by Intel Corp. is going to build a nationwide Russian WiMAX based network (IEEE 802.16e standard). The companies entered into a strategic agreement on wide-scale development of this technology. The contract clarifies each party’s responsibilities. Intel promises to develop up-to-date technological platforms with standard interfaces for user devices such as laptops, UMPC and MID (Mobile Internet Devices).

Besides the American vendor will lobby the supplies of WiMAX ready user systems to the Russian market. Their assistance will be similar to Wi-Fi technology promotion to the market. On its turn, the Russian carrier will invest the network infrastructure building and its forthcoming maintenance. At present Comstar UTS holds the necessary 2.5-2.7 GHz frequencies on the Moscow region. That is why it will start their WiMAX project in the Russian capital.

Moscow is the biggest and mostly developed market of broadband access (BBA) in Russia with the pool of subscribers amounting to over 1.5 mln. Penetration of this service accounts to 38% of the general number of households. In other big Russian cities this value is quite low.

The leading provider of broadband services is the daughter company of Comstar UTS — Comstar Direct. The company provides ADSL based Internet access to over 500,000 Moscow households.

In April 2006 Synterra finished the building of its own fixed wireless broadband access network. At the moment the network comprises 40 base stations and covers 80% of Moscow’s territory.

Fixed access wireless network built by RM-Telecom company services all city districts as well as suburban areas.

Fixed WiMAX network in Moscow is also developed by such companies as ArtCommunications, Corbina Telecom, Infoseti, Unitline. But Comstar leaders do not consider these companies as direct competitors.

(source: IDC CEMA)