Aicent Establishes First WiMAX Roaming Exchange

Aicent, which operates one of the world's largest GPRS and 3G network exchanges connecting to over 50 operators, US-based Clearwire, and Taiwan-based VMAX Telecom announced sucessfull internetwork roaming between WiMAX networks. Using Aicent's WiMAX Roaming eXchange (WRX), executives from Clearwire successfully used a USB dongle together with a username and password, as well as with embedded credentials from their company's 4G WiMAX service to gain access to the VMAX WiMAX network in Taiwan. This successful connection marks the first time international roaming between WiMAX networks has been achieved.


Aicent said that for roaming to be commercially viable, it has to be transparent and effortless to the end user. In this trial, VMAX wanted to ensure that subscribers from other WiMAX networks could take their equipment, in this case a USB modem that plugs into a laptop, and use the same username and password used for the home network to gain easy access to the VMAX network. The test also indicates that VMAX subscribers could likewise use their equipment, usernames and passwords to gain access to non-VMAX WiMAX networks.


"The future promise of WiMAX stretches beyond national borders to offer mobile data users the ability to connect wirelessly, at broadband speeds, wherever they may travel across the globe," said Ali Tabassi, Clearwire's Senior Vice President of Global Ecosystem and Standards. "The ability of WiMAX operators to work cooperatively in order to create seamless, simple and reliable international interoperability, as we have successfully demonstrated through Aicent's facilities, will be crucial to realizing the tremendous social and economic potential of a truly connected world."


VMAX Telecom was awarded a WiMAX operator permit for northern Taiwan by the National Communications Commission in July 2007. Investors include Tecom, Vibo Telecom, Intel Capital and Teco Electric & Machinery.


Separately, Aicent announced a similar roaming exchange with the Tatung InfoComm WiMAX network in Taiwan. Also in this trial, Tatung InfoComm wanted to ensure that subscribers from other WiMAX networks could use their equipment, in this case a USB dongle that plugs into a laptop, with the same username and password used for the home network to gain easy access to the Tatung InfoComm network. Tatung InfoComm is the first commercially-launched operator in Taiwan, beginning service in April this year in Penghu Island, then quickly expanding to Kaohsiung three months later in July.
http://www.aicent.com
http://www.vmax.net.tw