Globe Wimax in October

Globe Wimax (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) will start commercial operations in October 2008, Globe Telecoms announced this week. Globe Wimax will be rolled out in key cities of the Philippines, including Cebu and Metro Manila. Globe Wimax will sit alongside Globe's existing wireless broadband access services, including 3G/HSDPA and wi-fi. The service enables PC users to access the Internet via Wimax, which provides wider coverage and better throughput than wi-fi.

Globe will be using customer premise equipment (CPEs) and base stations from Chinese equipment vendor Huawei. Globe said it has been doing trials since the middle of last year and concluded first quarter this year in major cities of the Philippines.

Globe said its initial Globe Wimax rollout is not that significant relative to its Globe 3G investment though. At present, Globe has more than 2,000 3G/HSDPA base stations nationwide but did not reveal how many Globe Wimax base stations have been deployed so far. But expect capital expenditure on Globe Wimax to be higher next year as the company expands its rollout.

Globe said it will keep on expanding the service to cover as many urban areas possible. Uh-uh..bummer, i think there is a saturation already of ISP and Broadband providers in the Urban areas of the Philippines. What Globe Wimax should have done is to go to the countrysides where there is a big demand (yes, there is) for broadband or even dial up internet access, esp. since OFW's are mostly from the rural areas and would welcome means to cheaply get in touch with loved ones in the Philippines.

In terms of pricing, Globe Wimax said they do not expect Globe Wimax to be priced higher than existing wireless broadband services such as 3G/HSDPA. Globe Wimax is also positioned as an alternative to fixed broadband DSL service.