Motorola, UIH in mobile WiMAX trial in Thailand

Motorola, Inc. has achieved the first successful mobile WiMAX trial in Thailand, teaming up with United Information Highway Company Limited (UIH). The trial, demonstrating new wireless broadband experiences for users, marks the first among a series of Motorola’s mobile WiMAX engagements in Thailand.

UIH acquired a WiMAX trial licence last year from the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), and conducted trials in Bangkok and Phuket to assess WiMAX traffic channeling capabilities in the respective areas. Through these trials, UIH experienced the full mobility performance of Motorola’s mobile WiMAX solutions.

“The successful trials with UIH affirms WiMAX as a feasible wireless technology for the roll-out of cost-effective broadband services to urban and remote areas within a short deployment timeframe,” said Eric Starnes, general manager and regional director of South East Asia, Motorola Home & Networks Mobility. “We believe that mobile WiMAX solutions will give UIH differentiating advantages in expanding wireless broadband offerings and other value-added services to their customers.”

Bangkok and Phuket were selected as trial sites because of the areas’ high demand for broadband services. UIH is studying to use Motorola’s mobile WiMAX technology to provide low-cost broadband services to corporate users and travelers.

“The Internet penetration rate is currently around 15% in Thailand, and we believe there is huge potential to market affordable broadband services to consumers and corporate users,” said Vichai Bencharongkul, president of Benchachinda Holding Company Limited and chairman of executive committee of

With Motorola’s WiMAX technology, the broadband service providers will be able to provide better personal wireless broadband services for applications like VPN, online entertainment, video streaming, Internet telephony and online games.