With the expanding interest in WiMAX technology and deployments in the region, in addition to active interest from its Brazilian member companies, the WiMAX Forum® has created a permanent presence in this market with the establishment of the WiMAX Forum Brazil Office and the appointment of Brazil Director, Luiz C. Moraes Rego, faculty member of the Getulio Vargas Foundation Business School of Sao Paulo.
The new Office is the organization's sixth, adding to those located in the United States, China, India, Taiwan and Japan.
Brazil is a potentially significant market for WiMAX technology deployments, as the technology is already being deployed by service providers including Neovia, Brasil Telecom, Grupo Sinos, TVA and Embratel. In addition, many operators and businesses have announced trials in order to leverage WiMAX technology for broadband connectivity and the digital divide.
Following his appointment, Rego will manage all of the WiMAX Forum activities in Brazil, with a particular focus this year on addressing regulatory and member operator engagement. An important driver of new growth is to bring broadband wireless access to thousands of small and medium sized cities presently underserved or not served at all.
The presence of a WiMAX Forum Office and director in Brazil will help to ensure WiMAX plays a major role in this new growth.
"I am very excited to represent the WiMAX Forum in this rapidly developing region," said Rego. "WiMAX is a technology that matters for the emerging South American countries' economies. A standards-based technology like WiMAX will allow for quick deployment over very broad areas to help bridge the digital divide and provide businesses with more broadband solutions."