Bluenowhere is a member of the Mobile WiMAX Acceleration Group, a collaboration of companies in the WiMAX industry.
MWAG undertook the first WiMAX user trials in the UK, deploying one of the first Mobile WiMAX networks in the UK. During 2008 and 2009 the trials examine the technology and business case for WiMAX.
Bluenowhere led three of the five trials, working with Maidstone Borough Council to assess the value and business case for WiMAX in a municipal environment.
An independent trial report was produced by Mott MacDonald, and is publicly available on request. If you would like a copy please contact us.
M-WAG Vision & Strategic Intent
To create a powerful cross market industry voice which will communicate clear and consistent messages of the relative purpose of WiMAX and its value to consumers, business and government organisations.The Mobile WiMAX Acceleration Group has been formed to prove the business case, user experience and technology for mobile WiMAX by road testing an end-to-end value chain through a series of showcases covering local government, emergency services and a university & college.
M-WAG Objectives
Promote a national deployment of WiMAX in UK and Ireland by establishing proof points on key elements of the business case;
- Qualify what WiMAX can actually do through trial ‘proof points’ from an objective and neutral position;
- Demonstrate broadband wireless connectivity and usage diversity across a range of applications and market segments;
- Prove a supply chain exists that is inclusive of all end-to-end components, is open and multi-vendor;
- Establish identity with link to capabilities that can be re-used – at least across Europe;
- Create a legally independent alliance that promotes and incubates 4G in Western European (mature market) deployments
Trials
Trial 1 – CCTV
This trial looked at the viability, technically, of providing robust, high capacity, broadband connectivity in a secure manner with WiMAX, as an alternative to high cost fixed CCTV circuits. Connecting up existing CCTV cameras and testing in two locations for a continuous period of 4 weeks, we were able to demonstrate key advantages of the wireless platform.
Trial 2 – Public Safety/ Fire & Rescue
Working with Kent Fire & Rescue Service, we were able to demonstrate live video-relay from fixed, rapidly deployable, and mobile cameras, from the scene of an incident back to the control centre. Multiple video feeds in conjunction with video conferencing and file transfer combined to show how video information can enhance incident management substantially.
Trial 3 – Video Relay / Building Surveying
This trial looked at the potential for a mobile WiMAX broadband connection to improve the operation of the council’s building surveying department.
Equipping surveyors with a video camera connected via WiMAX, we were able to show the potential for improvements in decision making, obtaining second opinions in real-time from senior colleagues, and the consequent impact on dispute resolution with a reduction in decisions challenged.
Trial 4 – Mobile Worker
The Anti-Social Behaviour and Violent Crime Reduction Team regularly visit residents in the borough to take complaints in person. We were able to demonstrate the significant benefits of a secure, mobile broadband connection providing access to the department’s ICT systems and database, with notable benefits in ad-hoc meetings, document sharing and presentations.
In particular the improvement in the service to the public was clear, with a reduction in resolution time from 2 weeks to instant resolution.
Trial 5 – Outside Broadcast
This trial looked at the potential for an available WiMAX network to replace an “outside broadcast” satellite truck commonly used by television broadcasters for live reporting. While we were not able to complete the final demonstration of a live news broadcast over WiMAX on the evening BBC news, we were able to demonstrate a fully functioning architecture and the capability of the network to support a live video transmission and bi-directional audio communication.
MWAG Members
Alvarion
Alvarion (NASDAQ: ALVR) is the largest WiMAX pure-player with the most extensive WiMAX customer base and over 250 commercial deployments around the globe. Committed to growing the WiMAX market, the company offers solutions for a wide range of frequency bands supporting a variety of business cases. Through its OPEN WiMAX strategy, superior IP and OFDMA know-how, and ability to deploy end-to-end turnkey WiMAX projects, Alvarion is shaping the new wireless broadband experience. The MWAG trials have been facilitated by Alvarion’s Mobile WiMAX BreezeMAX base stations which communicate with different end-user devices including Indoor CPEs (customer premise equipment), laptops equipped with Mobile WiMAX PCMCIA cards and USB Dongles (www.alvarion.com)
Bluenowhere
Bluenowhere is a wholesale wireless network operator working to deploy a WiMAX network to serve local government and business communities with high quality fixed and nomadic broadband connectivity. Bluenowhere led the trials with Maidstone Borough Council, including the CCTV, Building Control, and Community Safety trials.(www.bluenowhere.net)
EADS
EADS Defence and Security, the leading provider of Secure Communications and Information Assurance solutions to governments worldwide. EADS led the WiMAX trial with Kent Fire & Rescue Service to demonstrate the benefits and capability for real-time video in incident coordination. (http://www.eadsds.com/)
MLL
MLL Telecom specializes in delivering carrier-grade wireless and fixed connectivity that allows customers to effectively integrate all locations on their network. The company delivers fully managed 24×7 network services and currently manages more than 5000 links nationwide. (www.mlltelecom.co.uk)
Mobile Sense
Mobile-Sense is a mobile payment service established in 2002 by Kerl Haslam, Operating under the “Beem” Brand they offer a service, which is independent of bank, network, handset, age, technology and location, the account allows users to send money with the ease of a text message. (http://www.beemme.co.uk/ & http://www.mobile-sense.com/)
Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald is a £1bn global management, engineering and development consultancy, and has been responsible for collating the technical and user experience data from the trials and compiling the independent trial report. (www.mottmac.com)
Urban WiMAX
Urban Wimax provides businesses with secure, cost effective, high quality connections for data, voice and video. Founded in 2004 by CEO Sasha Williamson, Urban WiMAX is exploiting the standards-based wide area network technology, WiMAX. The company is offering competitive symmetric voice and data services in the currently un-served 2 – 10Mb range to businesses in London. (www.urbanwimax.co.uk)
