Cisco ploughs WiMAX path in CIS

Giant internet kit maker Cisco has announced the commercial launch of mobile WiMAX services in Georgia and Kazakhstan based on the supplier’s equipment.

Georgian mobile operator MagtiCom launched its mobile WiMAX service using Cisco’s end-to-end broadband wireless solution. MagtiCom is currently offering broadband internet via WiMAX in the capital, Tbilisi, as well as in nine major cities across the country. By the end of 2009, the operator is planning to cover all key cities and regional centres of Georgia with WiMAX broadband services.

In Kazakhstan, AsiaBell, a private service provider, has launched a mobile WiMAX service in the Karaganda region – again, based on Cisco’s broadband wireless solution. The service is offered under the brand ‘AERO’ and is targeting an area with a population of one million people, including business and residential customers.

“Cisco is seeing enormous demand for broadband availability across emerging markets,” says Massimo Migliuolo, Cisco’s vice president of emerging markets. “This is driving significant interest in WiMAX, as it can be deployed rapidly and is IP compatible. Countries and service providers want to leapfrog and install networks, which are fast and are able to support rich media applications and services. A transformation to next generation networks using WiMAX technology can achieve this.”