Indonesian WiMAX Vendors

You might have heard about WiMAX. WiMAX promises an enhanced data rate and quality for wireless broadband, while achieving the mass market price of WiFi – due to component standardization and interoperability. Backed up by big names like Intel which plans to integrate WiMAX chip in every laptop (and recently invested in Sprint/Clearwire JV)…

WiMAX activities in Indonesia has been on the rise lately, in anticipation to the to be announced 2.3 GHz license tender. The tender has been delayed since 2 years, most probably due to some political reasons and few controversies.

One of the reason is the emphasis of local (Indonesian) content – meaning all frequency bidders need to explain how they plan to use local vendors in deploying their network. Meanwhile, no Indonesian vendors at that time were ready.

Then the controversies: Indonesia allocated WiMAX in the 2.3 GHz band and planned to use 16d standard.

Actually, The 2.3 GHz is not an issue anymore, because WiMAX Forum has recently put that band into the certification pipeline for 16e. Thus standard components from various suppliers will start to emerge soon.

The “16d” or fixed WiMAX system is frankly less sexy than the newer “16e” or mobile WiMAX. There is supposed to be cost advantage of 16d, but apparently it is diminishing fast. I think 16e will catch up sooner that we expect (probably did already!).

But combining both 2.3 GHz and 16d is the most problematic. It tends to be a proprietary system. Nobody that I know of in the industry has that product. There is already an Indonesian specific Ditjen Postel standard for nomadic broadband wireless equipment. I think we are to comply with this standard.

Recently, two vendors (Hariff DTE and TRG) have launched their 2.3 GHz WiMAX 16d systems (base station, modem, NMS). Taking advantage of the “standard.”

But yesterday’s ad in Kompas from xirka took me (and a lot of people, I guess) by surprise! It is a very timely released, in time for the upcoming “National Awakening Day” and National ICT expo next week, where the 16d guys are having their demo.

Mentioned in the ad: “BWA microchip (chipset, I guess), made in Indonesia by Indonesian, supporting the 16e Mobile WiMAX.”

Cool. “Curious” might be the right word, on second thought.

While we still have to see the real results, whether this chip will actually be used in any CPE or BTS equipment produced by system vendors, I am quite proud.

xirka brand itself is owned by PT Dama Persada (shareholder of DNET and closely tied to Sylvia Sumarlin).

Update: Apparently, the man behind the design is Trio Adiono. A lecturer from STEI ITB. He is a Japanese PhD graduate specializing in chip design.

Wimax Forum visit to Indonesia

Visit of Dr. Ferrie Hu of the Forum. He's the business development director for Asia. He's here to promote WiMAX in Indonesia. This is a closed event, for invitee only. Arranged by Indonesian Mastel. And sponsored by one of the WiMAX vendor…

This is a perfect time to do it, in my opinion, because:

1. Public receives a lot of wrong, misleading, over-promising message about WiMAX. Overly hyped, when reality strikes, people will be dissappointed. Thus. this good technology might die before it is launched as the result.
2. Government is seriously thinking of releasing a WiMAX license by 2008. There are a lot of heavy lobbying currently happening over there, and sadly, giving a wrong information. So it is important that they receives a balanced information.
3. What are the current gov't concern BTW? Namely: the best frequency allocation (2.3? 2.5? 3.3? 3.5?), economics of WiMAX, contribution of local manufacturing/industry in global value chain, and digital divide.
4. As well with operators, who are considering WiMAX. Especially the new comers. Understand WiMAX as a whole, not clouded by the hype.

WiMAX Forum Visit

Actually, the day before, they visited the regulatory body. And like I said, the mastermind of this event is one aggressive WiMAX vendor. A smart move actually: they gain the popularity as the one who brings the credible expert to Indonesia and as the one who's interest is to grow the industry. Not only their business. That's business development.

To be updated: Dr. Hu's message.

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

WiMAX: will you come to Indonesia?

My company is a regular sponsor to Indonesian MASTEL. Just recently, we also take part on their WiMAX training. (I sent a trainer to the event). It is also our interest to see this upcoming technology materialize in Indonesia and grow the telco/ICT industry in general.

Generally, our WiMAX situation in Indonesia are as follows:

1. It is over-hyped and mis-communicated
2. WiMAX licenses are not yet issued… and will be issued on an "unusual" frequency, 2.3 GHz
3. However, huge potential do exist

Mastel WiMAX Training

One by one, now.

Over-hyped, mis-communicated. The most common misconception was that WiMAX is able to "deliver broadband wireless at 30 Mb/s at the range of 50 km, non-line-of-sight." Errr…. well, the law of physics govern that the longer distance you go, the lower the bitrate is and vice versa.

Secondly, WiMAX will "kill 3G." Sort of… but 3G will not be dead easily and WiMAX will not live an easy life either. To really kill such a widely available mobile infrastructure definitely needs something huge as well (like Sprint WiMAX).

So our industry needs to communicate this well.

License & frequency. We are afraid that not enough equipment will be available at the 2.3 GHz frequency. If available, they might reach the required economics of scale to deliver the so called zero-cost CPE. But let's see how the game will play.

On the other hand, our government is also planning some strategic move here. So that explains the "odd" spectrum choice.

Huge potential. Broadband adoption is negligible in Indonesia. Here's some numbers:

• DSL & Cable subscribers are estimated 300k subs, they have been operating since 2001 — out of 9 million phone subs
• HSDPA are (our guestimate) at 100k subs — out of 70 million phone subs
• Internet is at 20 mil. users and 1.5 mil. subscribers — out of 230 mil. population

How are we going to grow the numbers? Personally, I believe that by 2010 the internet subs should double, and the broadband subs should reach at 2 mil. Why not?

Will WiMAX help?

Cross your fingers…

Read and post comments | Send to a friend