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It’s important to understand that WiMAX is a new technology being deployed in countries all over the world. Governments across the globe increasingly operate with the understanding that deploying wireless networks are a part of expanding national infrastructure. Buiding a WiMAX network is the 21st century equivalent of building the roads, railways, and ports of yesteryear. Additionally, there is the added expectation of populations of access to the internet being a fundamental human right.
Each country that deploys a WiMAX network faces different hurdles and obstacles. It is important to remember that a country like Russia building a network spanning 11 time zones and a small country like Fiji are at relatively the same point in their experience rolling out such networks.
It is not just a matter of geography and terrain, there are also other issues of dedicating specific ranges in the broadcast spectrum and working out arrangements with existing providers, especially to coordinate building of new infrastructure.
For instance, a July 2007 article from Malaysia describes how the Government has had to step in with incentives to encourage service providers to act collectively in laying out the infrastructure for new wireless networks:
According to the news agency Bernama, if the companies decide to share their infrastructure, the minister also offered financial assistance from the ministry’s universal service fund. The minister added that “If the companies decide to go on their own, they will have to roll out the cost of the towers themselves.” The impetus for suggesting a shared infrastructure comes from the ministry’s dissatisfaction over the roll-out of 3G services in Malaysia. The minister said that after two years, not all of the 3G towers that were planned for construction had been completed.
The dissatisfaction with the slow speed of construction of towers forced the relevant ministry in Malaysia to jump into action.
In Russia, service provider Synterra has had to devise unique solutions to help deploy a national WiMAX infrastructure over such a large geographic area.
Their aim is to utilize partnerships with local service providers in towns with populations larger than 100,000. They are deploying over 1,000 such networks at an estimated cost of US $29,000 each.
These examples are intended to show how deploying a WiMAX network in Fiji will require understanding and cooperation between the relevant stakeholders. It will require a unique public-private partnership, where Government will have to step in with incentives to ensure the rapid deployment of a network that has wide coverage.
To make this a reality for Fiji, both policymakers to service providers will have to think seriously about the importance of universal internet access to the future of Fiji.
People are the common denominator of progress. So… no improvement is possible with unimproved people, and advance is certain when people are liberated and educated. It would be wrong to dismiss the importance of roads, railroads, power plants, mills, and the other familiar furniture of economic development… But we are coming to realize… that there is a certain sterility in economic monuments that stand alone in a sea of illiteracy. Conquest of illiteracy comes first.
–John Kenneth Galbraith
Vodafone’s Coverage Map:
Part I of this post contains a technical discussion of implementing a WI-MAX network to provide communication to rural and outer-island communities.
Enabling Universal Access (Part I) received the most comments and feedback from readers. People understand that present efforts at deregulation offer us the chance to move away from the shackles of years past, as well as an opportunity to chart a brighter course for communications infrastructure in Fiji.
Specific objectives of The Coconut Wireless include raising awareness of the importance of these changes. Additionally, the aim is to:
1) Ensure deregulation means access for those who cannot afford it
2) make sure current efforts do not hoodwink the people of Fiji into something similar to the prior agreement—locking the country into additional years of little progress.
Provisions have been included in the new arrangement that will require current and new operators to fund efforts to provide universal access as well as contribute toward the expansion of Fiji’s communications infrastructure.
From a Fijilive article:
Telecom operators’ licence fee is $1m per annum or 1.5 per cent of gross turnover for the previous financial year. whichever is greater. One per cent is for the licence fee and 0.5 per cent is the USO (universal service obligation) levy.
This is great news for everyone in Fiji. We are one step closer to funding the kind of WI-MAX network discussed in Part I.
With secured funding, ensuring universal access is definitely within reach. Those in decision-making roles must understand the benefits that come from the kind of public-private network discussed.
Providing internet access to schools can help improve education, offering teachers opportunities to pursue cutting-edge curriculum and programs for their students.
Those living in rural and outer-islands will no longer be subjected to the tyranny of distance. Police, fire and other emergency services can also benefit from improved communications facilities.
It is time for ALL of Fiji to be connected to the Global Village. This is a very important step in improving our people.
Readers, if you have access to information on the deregulation effort and know of any section of it that comments on the implementation of WI-MAX networks, your comments and feedback would be greatly appreciated here. Specifically, what can you tell us about the existing players (Vodafone, ATH, and Kidanet) stance on the implementation of a WI-MAX network?
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