First wireless broadband pilot launched in Lao Cai
The Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee, the US Embassy, Intel and Vietnam Data Communications (VDC) launched Vietnam’s first trial WiMAX broadband network in Lao Cai province on October 27.
The new technology, pioneered by world technology leader Intel Corporation and operated by Vietnam Data Communications, offers a broad variety of economic, educational, health, community and social applications across Lao Cai and in outlying areas beyond.
“Lao Cai is located on a large area with complicated terrace and mountains, therefore wireless Internet broadband application in remote areas is much more effective and less expensive than traditional dial-up,” said Nguyen Ngoc Kim, Vice Chairman of Lao Cai Provincial People’s Committee.
“If the WiMAX project is successful, this will be a good chance to speed up Internet application in remote and mountainous areas, help people in these areas have quick access to guidelines and policies of the Party and State and update new knowledge of agriculture,” he said.
The WiMAX trial project was initiated in Hanoi on 14th June 2006 with a Memorandum of Understanding between the three partners - USAID, Intel, and VDC - to jointly apply a new generation of wireless broadband technologies in ways that can dramatically enhance the lives and economic opportunity of Vietnam’s rural and remote communities.
The next stage of this historic WiMAX pilot project is scheduled to begin in early 2007 and will utilise Vietnam’s new IPSTAR satellite to provide advanced wireless broadband service to remote regions of Lao Cai where no telecom infrastructure or telephone landlines currently exist.
Nhan Dan - October 27, 2006.
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