Fixed WiMAX nodes that are targeted at business deployed by Unwired

As it eagerly awaits the National Broadband Network plans, Unwired steams ahead with a fixed WiMAX build focused on business.

Using its ageing Nevini wireless network, the company, has focused more on consumers, until now, and is building its business network in Sydney and Melbourne quietly, with plans for more build in the pipeline.

David Spence, the CEO for Unwired said “We have an internal group now totally focused on business services, mainly 802.16d WiMAX which is point-to-point and point-to-multipoint fixed links. We think the market is very ready for that type of service, because the costs of radios have come down a lot and unlicensed spectrum is a bit congested in metro areas now, so we’re using part of the 3.5GHz spectrum we own, and we’re busy doing deals as fast as we can.”

In the wireless broadband space major companies like Clever, BigAir and Allegro will now be competing against Unwired as it begins its new focus in the business user arena. Spence said that Unwired has “focused on the better quality deals at the top end of the market,” and in order to get the product to its end users it will work with various channel partners like Maxinet, Startech, D2 and Discovery.

Over 9 fixed WiMAX base stations have been deployed by Unwired so far onto its own backhaul network and there will be more coming said the CEO. Spence also said that while Unwired had focused on Sydney and Melbourne in the past “we’re looking at services in Brisbane right now, we’re about to start there as well.”

The 3.5GHz spectrum holding by Unwired, which is being used already but has the spare bandwidth to allow for additional services to be supported, will be utilized by the fixed WiMAX. Spence said “Its part of our strategy for the use of the 3.5GHz spectrum – it doesn’t take up at all, we’re still running consumer services on 3.5GHz and using it for backhaul services as well. But we do see that this is becoming a good opportunity for us.”

When asked about the 2.3GHz band spectrum that Unwired held he said “That’s our 4G strategy – the whole of the 2.3GHz [spectrum holding] is for mobile WiMAX.”