Companies complete VoIP trials over WiMAX platform in South Africa

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25 January 2006 News

Verso Technologies has announced the successful completion of its VoIP trial across a Pre-WiMAX (IEEE802.16a) network in conjunction with Saab Grintek Technologies, one of South Africa's leading IT, telecoms solutions and integration companies for mutual customer, Telkom SA.

This trial enabled WiFi-compatible PDAs (personal digital assistants) access to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) by using customer premise gateways (CPGs) and then backhauled using WiMAX technology to an existing Telecom central office. This trial solution was successfully deployed using Verso's Class IV and Class V softswitching and gateway technologies, said the companies.

WiMAX is a standards-based wireless technology that provides high-throughput broadband connections over long distances. WiMAX can be used for a number of applications, including 'last mile' broadband connections, hotspots and cellular backhaul, and high-speed enterprise connectivity for business.

The demand for broadband wireless Internet access has climbed steadily in recent years. Reaching customers with traditional broadband connectivity has been very expensive in existing metro environments that lack copper or fibre infrastructure, or in geographical areas that are difficult to reach with traditional broadband technologies. These include rural areas within the African continent with low population density, as well as emerging markets in the developing world with little or no existing communications infrastructure to build upon.

Broadband wireless promises to reach these markets without the cost of a hard-wired infrastructure. The potential benefits of a WiMAX network include reaching more customers, delivering more services to existing customers and lowering the cost of delivery, producing greater revenue for carriers and content providers with lower costs.

"The trial demonstrates Verso's ability to provide Carrier Grade VoIP solutions and applications to meet the needs of the evolving telecom sector in Africa," said Monty Bannerman, chief executive officer, Verso Technologies.

"Verso's product portfolio addresses the challenges faced by telecom carriers on the African continent," said Delio Senatore, Carrier divisional head for Saab Grintek. "We are confident that our strong partnership will continue to assist our mutual customers to select and deploy solutions that are timely, cost effective and address the needs of this evolving telecommunications market," said Senatore.

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Companies complete VoIP trials over WiMAX platform in South Africa

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