International WiMAX roaming: first demonstration

Stuart Corner
Monday, 26 October 2009 11:47

Business IT - Technology

Users of mobile phones and 3G wireless broadband services expect to be able to roam internationally, even if they don't like the charges. The first demo of international WiMAX roaming shows how far away the equivalent is in the WiMAX world.

The demonstration took place in Taiwan using Aicent's WiMAX Roaming eXchange (WRX). According to Aicent, "Executives from a [un-named], non-Asian WiMAX operator successfully used a USB WiMAX dongle together with a username and password combination and embedded credentials from their own WiMAX service to gain access to the Tatung InfoComm WiMAX network in Taiwan...using Aicent's WiMAX Roaming eXchange (WRX)."

Aicent claimed that: "This successful connection marks the first time international roaming between WiMAX networks has been achieved...Tatung InfoComm wanted to ensure that subscribers from other WiMAX networks could use their equipment...with the same username and password used for the home network to gain easy access to the Tatung InfoComm network."

It added: "The test met all the criteria to call it a success. This test also indicates that Tatung InfoComm subscribers could likewise use their equipment, usernames and passwords to gain access to non-Tatung InfoComm WiMAX networks."

Aicent's reticence to name the other operator is surprising since US WiMAX operator Clearwire issued its own press release saying it "had made an important step in the international WiMAX roaming area with the successful completion of the first roaming connection between WiMAX networks. using a USB modem and a clear 4G WiMAX service username and password, through which access to a WiMAX network in Taiwan was gained." The Taiwanese operator was not named!

None of the players has given any indication of when commercial roaming services will be available. Lynn Liu, president and CEO of Aicent, said: "There are important technical challenges to overcome to enable people to have 'anywhere, anytime access' to these important, often critical, data networking connections. Aicent is fortunate to work with leaders like Clearwire to bring the innovations that will ultimately result in a worldwide ubiquitous WiMAX network."

Aicent is already a significant player in enabling cellular roaming services. It claims to operate one of the world's largest GPRS and 3G network exchanges, connecting to over 70 operators, including four of the world's five largest. It also operates "one of the world's first and largest multimedia messaging exchanges."

The WiMAX industry's peak global body, the WiMAX Forum operates a web site dedicated to promoting WiMAX roaming, http://www.wimaxroaming.org . It announced in June 2009 the first the first ever commercial WiMAX interoperability and roaming trials, between 14 WiMAX "ecosystem leaders" but it also has given no indication of when commercial WiMAX roaming services might be available.