We already know that Nokia will be trialing WiMax in Texas during the first half of 2008, but this is the first we’re hearing of discussions taking place in the Middle East. Jan Cron, Head of Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN) Middle East had this to say:
“We cannot disclose the names of the organisations that we are piloting with. We are doing these on our own. Since we have our own WiMax brand and the capability in end-to-end infrastructure, we are not really working with partners.”
Not really working with partners? That doesn’t sound very nice. The only reason GSM took off was because it was a set standard agreed upon by various partners.
The region has a hair over 300 million mobile users now and it is expected to top 575 million by 2010. Roughly 18% of operator revenues are from data, but with WiMax NSN hopes to make that number hit 30% within the next 3 years. That is a safe estimate, I would venture to say 35%.
Personally every Nokia fan I know in the ME lusts after the communicator. Everything else is just a toy to them. Having a communicator in Dubai is like having a luxury sedan here in America.
[Via: ITP]