Nortel to Build First WiMAX Network in Canada

December 16, 2005

The Alberta Special Areas Board (SAB) selected Nortel to build the first commercial broadband wireless access network in Canada based on the WiMAX IEEE 802.16-2004 (fixed WiMAX) standard.

Under the terms of the agreement with the SAB, Nortel will supply fixed (802.16d) WiMAX base stations, indoor and outdoor customer premises equipment (CPEs) and wireless backhaul equipment as well as installation and professional services.

Nortel's fixed WiMAX solutions can be upgraded to support the nomadic/portable WiMAX standard (802.16e).

The SAB is collaborating with NETAGO Wireless, a newly formed wireless service provider in Canada, to bring wireless broadband services to rural Albertans spread throughout more than 8,000 square miles (21,000 square kms) in southeastern Alberta. The WiMAX network will operate in the 3.5GHz spectrum band and be made available to roughly 80% of SAB residents by the end of summer 2006.

The new WiMAX network will also extend the service area of the Alberta SuperNet Project, a provincial government initiative designed to bring affordable broadband services to approximately 4,200 government, health, library and educational facilities in 429 communities across Alberta.

Source: Nortel.