To help accelerate Malaysia’s drive to 50 per cent broadband penetration by 2010, government research agency MIMOS has launched MIMOS WiWi, the world’s first WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) and Wi-Fi hybrid solution, the government agency said on 19 August.
“The MIMOS WiWi technology platform—operating on the 2.3 GHz [Gigahertz] frequency—which has been designed as a last mile broadband connectivity solution to accelerate the country’s broadband penetration, is now ready for nationwide commercialisation,” said MIMOS president and chief executive officer Dato’ Abdul Wahab Abdullah.
“This is in line with MIMOS current focus on the process of technology transfer for commercialisation aimed at creating a funnel of innovations to push our indigenous industries into the global market,” said Wahab.
He said in conjunction with the launch of MIMOS WiWi technology platform, MIMOS exchanged collaboration agreements with three WiMAX operators—REDtone International, Packet One Networks (Malaysia) [P1], and Asiaspace.
Under the collaboration agreement, the three operators would promote the sustainable growth of information and communications technology (ICT) through a broadband technology such as WiMAX.
Low Cost of Deployment
Wahab said with a low cost of deployment advantage, the MIMOS WiWi technology platform could be further developed as a solution to bridge the digital divide. “Towards this end, MIMOS WiWi technology platform is expected to be part of the national roll-out of the Broadband for General Population (BBGP) initiative, which is in line with the national broadband target of 50 per cent household penetration by 2010.”
“MIMOS WiWi is an environmentally-friendly plug-and-play instant broadband hotspot technology platform, which is the ideal solution for cheaper and more affordable connectivity per user,” he said. “As it provides multiple PC connections, which uses existing Wi-Fi connectivity at broadband speeds, it can provide fixed, portable and mobile wireless broadband available to all Malaysians.”
According to Wahab, the MIMOS WiWi technology platform could be adapted to enable broadband Internet connectivity in rural areas. “With Internet protocol version 6 [IPv6] data access, it can provide cheaper calls via voice over IP [VoIP] between users; and with patented multicasting capability, it can provide efficient and high-quality IPTV without the need for investments in bigger transmission links,” he said.
“MIMOS WiWi technology platform has a high-capacity access network architecture, which offers a hybrid network approach to support any compatible off-the-shelf WiMAX or even other technologies such as asymmetric digital subscriber line [ADSL],
Wi-Fi, high-speed downlink packet access [HSDPA] as the backhaul and Wi-Fi (access) module,” Wahab added.
Order for 100,000 Units
CEEDTec, MIMOS’ first WiWi technology platform recipient, has received an order for 100,000 WiWi technology platform-based units, and was presented with a special recognition award from MIMOS.
“The MIMOS WiWi technology platform, having found a place in the marketplace, is a demonstration of the success of MIMOS’ technology platforms,” said Wahab. “With our technology platforms that cut across all industry verticals, MIMOS is well-positioned to realise our ultimate goal of driving technology from a tool to an enabler and subsequently as a sector.”
