NEWS: WiWi answer to last-mile headaches

PETALING JAYA: Three WiMAX licensees are deploying “WiWi” — a hybrid of WiMAX and WiFi wireless broadband technologies — developed by applied-research institute Mimos Bhd.

The licensees are Redtone International Bhd, Packet One Networks (P1) Sdn Bhd and Asiaspace Sdn Bhd. They are three of the four WiMAX licensees in the country.

Datuk Abdul Wahab, Mimos president and chief executive, said WiWi is a more feasible and cheaper alternative for last-mile connectivity. “It enables the users of WiFi to connect to the Internet at WiMAX broadband speeds,” he added.

“Last mile” refers to the final segment between an Internet or communications service provider’s infrastructure and a subscriber’s premises. The gap is traditonally bridged by a wired connection, such as copper phone lines.

In recent years, service providers have turned to wireless technologies to bridge the gap, since copper lines are more expensive to lay and sometimes aren’t feasible, such as in the case of isolated communities.

Mimos’ WiWi technology takes the wider coverage of a WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) setup and links it to the cheaper WiFi (Wireless Fidelity) system to make the last-mile connection.

Using WiMAX technology exclusively would be very expensive at this point in time, while WiFi just doesn’t have the broadcast reach for such an expansive application.

Also, most computers and other Internet-enabled gadgets now are set up for WiFi connections instead of WiMAX, the specifications of which are still being standardised.

Boost the gain

“WiWi provides plug-and-play broadband hotspots and can enable multiple PCs to access the Internet via a single WiFi connection,” said Abdul Wahab.

He said it will also be easier, cheaper and faster to connect hotels, universities, schools, convention centres and rural communities to wireless broadband with WiWi.

Mimos also claimed that WiWi’s multicasting capability enables the technology to support high-quality Internet Protocol TV services.

Michael Lai, chief executive officer of P1, said the company sees much merit in using the hybrid technology to help bridge the “digital divide,” that gap between the technology haves and have-nots in the country.

“We will try it at the P1 Community Broadband Centre (CBC) in Chini Timur, Pahang,” he said. P1’s CBC was developed as a proof-of-concept telecentre for underserved areas.

On the other hand, Asiaspace and Redtone are looking at deploying WiWi in urban centres and will only take it to the rural areas later.