BSNL ties up with US firm SOMA for WiMax

• State-owned Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd has chosen the US-based SOMA Networks to deploy the world’s largest mobile WiMax network in India.
  The project is on a private- public partnership model wherein SOMA will also invest in providing the technology to BSNL. The revenue will be shared between the two companies.
  As per the deal SOMA will roll out mobile WiMax across three States — Gujarat, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh — to provide wireless broadband coverage to nearly 200 million people over the next 3 years. Prior to this, the largest mobile WiMax project was the one announced by Sprint-Nextel, aimed at providing coverage to 100 million people in the US. This will be the first deployment of mobile WiMax version based on standard 802.16e in India.
• The wireless technology will also allow BSNL to roll out its broadband services faster. However, since WiMax modems are still on the expensive side, subscribers may find it more cost-effective to rent the modem from BSNL. The service is expected to be launched in the third quarter this year. While the tariffs are yet to be decided.
• Mobile WiMax is being touted as the technology that will give a big boost to broadband in India.

Main attraction:

• Boost for broadband
  Project is on private-public partnership model.
  SOMA will also invest in providing technology to BSNL.
  Initially, the service will be offered on PC and laptops