Intel Chipsets Power Latest WiMAX Trial

Oxford, UK -- Pipex Wireless, a joint venture between Pipex and Intel Corporation focused on developing and providing wireless services, announced that it has successfully completed the latest phase of its WiMAX trial in Stratford-upon-Avon. Working with wireless solutions provider, Airspan Networks, the trials have tested Pipex Wireless' WiMAX-based broadband services in a number of locations.

Performance has been evaluated using both indoor and outdoor antennae, powered by Intel Rosedale chipsets, with the trial showing that WiMAX can deliver near symmetric services in most environments. This will mean that businesses and home users will benefit from being able to send content such as e-mail attachments and large files at the same speed as typical broadband downloads.

"WiMAX is an exciting opportunity for Pipex and we're delighted that the tests have been completed and successfully shown the technology's potential," said Mike Read, CEO of Pipex. "In our next stage, we are undertaking commercial trials delivering end-to-end WiMAX services with a number of local authorities and live customers."

Airspan's CTO, Alastair Westgarth, commented, "We are pleased to have our WiMAX platform solution as part of the Pipex WiMAX trial. It has given us the opportunity to prove that our Software Defined Radio base station and indoor, self install CPE fit the needs of a solid WiMAX service provider such as Pipex. The combination of range and throughput demonstrated by the achievements to date are very encouraging and provide an added baseline for our continuing product development of this platform."

Pipex Wireless was created in April 2006 by Pipex and Intel Capital, Intel Corporation's venture arm, to develop fixed and portable broadband wireless services for consumers and business customers in the UK. The company intends to announce additional trial deployments in 2006 and roll out new services in several major metro areas in 2007.

SOURCE: Pipex Communications plc