UK operator demos dual-band WiMAX handover

UK WiMAX operator, Freedom4, claims it has achieved the world’s first seamless mobile WiMAX session handover between base stations operating at two different frequencies: 2.5GHz and 3.6GHz.

Working with its network partners Airspan Networks, Starent Networks and Bridgewater Systems, Freedom4 says it has built the underlying network architecture enabling it to deliver high capacity wholesale mobile broadband services.

The dual-mode handover development should put Freedom4, which counts Intel Capital as one of its investors, in a strong position to partner with licence winners in the upcoming 2.6GHz auctions in the UK. Such a partnership would provide nationwide mobile coverage.

Using 802.16d kit from Airspan, which operates across Freedom4’s 84MHz slice of spectrum in the 3.6GHz-3.8GHz frequency band, the Intel-backed operator started commercial WiMAX in Manchester and two towns (Milton Keynes and Warwick) in early 2008.

The operator focuses on wholesaling ‘affordable’ symmetrical data products (1Mbps, 2Mbps, 4Mbps) targeted at small businesses (5-50 employees), via its retail partners.