14 DAY TRIAL // Comcast is reportedly testing out WiMAX femtocells, in a move aimed at enabling it to offer expanded wireless broadband services. The largest cable provider in the United States is already known to have plans for WiMAX services; therefore, the testing of femtocells that are based on this technology should not come as a surprise.
According to a recent article on FierceWireless, Comcast has been expected since last year to start offering WiMAX femtocells at a certain point in the future. The assertion is based on the fact that the agreement between the company and Clearwire, the carrier that currently builds a WiMAX network in the US, stated that 5 MHz of spectrum should be set aside for the use of WiMAX femtocells.
Comcast currently testing the solutions clearly shows it is moving ahead with the initial plan, the news site also notes. However, this is only the trial phase, and there are great chances that the commercial availability of WiMAX femtocells won't occur until sometime next year, at least this is what a source close to the matter has reportedly stated.
“Nonetheless, Comcast's femtocell intentions could signal a larger femtocell push by the U.S. WiMAX community. Indeed, WiMAX offerings from Comcast, such as dongles or other WiMAX kit, often appear at Clearwire or one of its resellers such as Time Warner Cable or Sprint Nextel. Further, femtocells are slowly worming their way into the heart of the U.S. wireless industry: Sprint Nextel, Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility all offer cellular femtocells,” FierceWireless also notes.
Various vendors around the world are already delivering WiMAX-based networks, and although Clearwire is said not to have commented on the availability of the solution, Clearwire's CEO Bill Morrow is reported to have mentioned, at a 4G World conference in Chicago, that femtocells and picocells will represent a strong area in WiMAX' future. As the WiMAX coverage in the US is expanding, one should expect for more interest in various related solution to surface.