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WiMAX Technology in Riyadh

Intel’s operations in Saudi Arabia have achieved a regional first by adopting WiMAX technology to support their communication needs through Integrated Telecom Company’s (ITC) WiMAX network in the Kingdom. ITC, the second licensed data services provider in Saudi Arabia, started deployment of their WiMAX network infrastructure early this year.

All of Intel’s employees in Riyadh will now use the fixed WiMAX infrastructure (IEEE 802.16-2004) on a 3.5GHz frequency, provided by ITC, which has linked the office with the Internet backbone of local Internet service provider Nesma Internet. The office’s WiMAX set-up uses an Intel-enabled CPE (customer premise equipment), delivering on-demand access to high-speed Internet broadband services and connectivity to the wireless LAN in the office.

“Saudi Arabia is making major strides to increase IT adoption and grow the technology sector, and Intel is committed to its role as an enabler, working to help provide the latest systems and infrastructure,” said Intel’s GM for the GCC Samir Al-Schamma. “To have Intel’s Riyadh office using WiMAX is a reflection of Riyadh’s determination to become a genuine digital city.”

Riyadh aims to become the first Middle East city to integrate wireless capabilities through WiMAX, and the Saudi government has begun issuing fixed WiMAX (IEEE 802.16-2004) licenses on a 3.5GHz frequency recently, the first Middle East country to do so.

Dr. Mohammed Omar, president of ITC, which implemented the fixed WiMAX connectivity at Intel’s Riyadh office, said: “WiMAX is bringing the fixed broadband and mobile worlds together, as WiMAX offers cost-effective ‘last-mile’ connectivity to areas that are too expensive to serve with wired technologies. WiMAX offers a fast track for digital change in Saudi Arabia. We have started installation of WiMAX base stations in Riyadh for testing purposes and also for serving certain immediate corporate customers’ requirements. The results are encouraging and we are looking forward to a wider deployment in the next few months.”

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