Is There a Future For UK Broadband’s WiMAX Business?
Today Britain has one remaining license-holding WiMAX operator – UK Broadband – who has been busy over the last two years converting its wireless infrastructure from pre-WiMAX TD-CDMA technology to the latest 802.16e mobile WiMAX. The company now holds an impressive block of nationwide spectrum between 3.5GHz and 4.2GHz, along with higher frequencies for microwave backhaul. Business focus has switched away from consumer to local government, education and healthcare verticals. There is no doubt that PCCW executives have been studying Clearwire’s progress in the US, where indicators suggest a shift towards wholesale, leaving the consumer business to Sprint. If UK Broadband is prepared to monetize its spectrum holdings through wholesale arrangements with other carriers, and invest in sufficient infrastructure in UK cities for bandwidth-intensive business segments such as wireless CCTV and Internet connectivity for public safety and public transportation, then it stands a real chance of su
