SINGAPORE - As the use of broadband grows, Motorola is holding out an even better user experience riding on the next generation of connectivity - WiMAX. It's talking mobile WiMAX.

As part of the recent WiMAX Forum Congress Asia 2008 held in Singapore, Motorola showcased what has so far been seen only during trials across the highways of Thailand.

To demonstrate WiMAX on the move in Singapore, all that was required was a laptop, Motorola's wi4 WiMAX card and a set of wheels.

Motorola executive Ashish Dayama was 'tour leader' for the ride around the suburb of Yio Chu Kang - Ang Mo Kio near the company's local offices.

Tapping into base stations placed on the rooftop of the Motorola building, it was an easy ride and surf.

The connection was seamless as over-the-air signals fed from one point to another, while the vehicle weaved through normal evening traffic, amidst the usual sprinkling of tropical rain, trees and buildings both tall and short.

Motorola's WAP 400 access points with backhaul provided by wireless IP equipment powered the experience over a range of some two kilometres from the base points without line of sight.

If WiMAX were to be offered for general use in Singapore, it would mean even faster and better access than what's already available across the island.

Taking an upclose look at the stepped-up solution of mobile WiMAX, it was easy to imagine why the everyday user will be even more attracted to such a service if made commercially available.

With mobile WiMAX, you'd be able to check on your office email, even via VPN, while riding on the train on the way to work, as the interactive chat with a friend continues and while your favourite music video streams in the background.

Although the demonstration didn't replicate the same vision of connectivity nirvana, it was close, with two websites up and running at the same time, along with a visit to YouTube to stream a video.

The experience seemed even better than what one can have with broadband when every other person in the same building decides to join the connection, since there was no lag or dropped signals even while streaming the video, and all this while on the move.

Of course, it helped to have discreetly tucked under the seat,Motorola's "plug-and-play" automatic network detection device, the CPEi 300.

The compact, domed device which looked more like a fat and short silver Thermos flask is in fact an award-winning antenna booster which increases transmitter power and receiver sensitivity so that even with fewer access points, high-speed data access and voice connectivity is maintained.

That meant that during the mobile WiMAX demonstration, tasks normally done at the office desk or in the home with a broadband connection was easily replicated, such as making a VOIP call or tapping into a remote camera.

With the combination of access points, WiMAX PC card and antenna booster, the future of commuting and connecting never looked so good.

"Mobile WiMAX is an essential part of Motorola's portfolio to deliver broadband everywhere enabling consumers to access high speed internet at home and on-the-go" said Mike Ropicky, Senior Director of Marketing and Product Operations at Motorola.

The demonstration he added, shows that there is a WiMAX Mobile solution ready for commercial deployment in the Asia Pacific region.

Some may say WiMAX is not a viable solution with high infrastructure costs involved in building and maintaining base stations.

But maybe that's just an urban, tech myth.

Nations such as Bangladesh and Pakistan have chosen to invest in WiMAX, and in the case of Pakistan, the network has been growing.

Motorola which is working with 18 countries to put WiMAX in place for commercial use, says mobile WiMAX is another workable solution that operators can offer as it provides low-cost, fast and easy-to-deploy broadband services to all types of users, whether fixed, portable or mobile.

What makes the offer even more attractive is the fact that WiMAX technology can run together with the cabled infrastructure already in place.

Reason enough perhaps, for regional players such as Malaysian telco Maxis and Japan's SOFTBank to carry out WiMAX trials for a wireless alternative to the wires now in place.

In Singapore, WiMAX is currently available only for ships and shippers through the WISEPORT project.

Subscribers can tap into the WiMAX system with download speeds of between 512kbps and 8Mbps when in range of Singapore's southern coast up to its port water limits through base stations set up in the Central Business District; PSA Building in the west; and on Jurong Island.

Plans are underway for another three base stations, to be set up in the eastern and western parts of Singapore and the offshore islands. - CNA/sf