Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/7077-azulstar-chooses-alvarion-to-deliver-wimax

Azulstar chooses Alvarion to deliver WiMAX

Will launch broadband service in West Michigan and New Mexico

October 16, 2008

3.65 GHz wireless provider Azulstar Inc. has selected Alvarion Ltd.'s 802.16e BreezeMAX equipment to deliver mobile WiMAX service to communities in West Michigan and New Mexico.

Azulstar's MetraMAX wireless broadband network will be powered by a high-performance Gigabit backbone to deliver a fast, responsive Internet connection.

Alvarion's BreezeMAX 3650 base station and CPE (customer premises equipment) were the first in the U.S. to receive FCC authorization to deploy in the 3.65 GHz band. The equipment supports self-install CPEs, advanced antenna technologies including MIMO, and enables up to fourth order diversity to maximize capacity and coverage. Alvarion’s solution provides the U.S. operators in 3.65 GHz spectrum with the ability to leverage the performance of an 802.16e solution.

WiMAX service has been tested in the West Michigan area since February, Azulstar says in a company release. Service was formally launched Thursday in Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, Ferrysburg and Spring Lake, and other parts of Ottowa and Kent County, Mich. Service also launched Thursday in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque, N.M.; other markets now under construction will follow this fall.

The service will offer full T1s for businesses starting under US$275 per month, as well as phone and Internet home bundles starting under $40 per month. Service speeds are available up to 6 Mbps for the home and 100 Mbps symmetric for business connections.