WiSOA: WiMAX Spectrum Owners Alliance Prepares to Connect the Next Billion Broadband Users

PARIS -- At an inaugural meeting in Paris, founding members Unwired Australia, Network Plus Mauritius, UK Broadband, Irish Broadband, Austar Australia/Liberty Group, Telecom New Zealand, WiMAX Telecom Group, Enertel, and Woosh Telecom announced today the launch of the WiMAX Spectrum Owners Alliance (WiSOA), the first global organisation composed exclusively of companies that own spectrum and operate services in the WiMAX bands. The work of WiSOA will be fundamental to connecting the next billion users to a worldwide WiMAX broadband network.

WiSOA also announced its intention to sign the first international WiMAX roaming agreement in December. This roaming agreement will cover all WiMAX services and operate in all WiMAX frequency ranges. The agreement will act as the backbone of a future global WiMAX network and adheres to the 802.16e standards. The importance of global roaming has been proven with GSM. Today there are 25,000 roaming agreements worldwide generating over $25 billion in revenue every year.

"WiMAX is a disruptive technological breakthrough in the telecommunications sector, and will deliver personal broadband to enable users to access the Web, make telephone calls, watch videos and play music," said Steve R. Cosser, chairman of WiSOA. "WiSOA was established to facilitate the adoption of WiMAX globally, and with its exclusive membership of spectrum owners only, is in a unique position to do so."

WiSOA is an operator-driven alliance with clear commercial goals. It has parallels with similar successful industry alliances such as GSM-A and the cable and telephony industry associations. It will complement the work of the WiMAX Forum and work closely with them to accelerate WiMAX deployment worldwide.

For further information visit www.wisoa.com