Brunei's Local News - Brudirect.com

Bandar Seri Begawan - With the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry of Brunei Darussalam (AITI) aiming primarily to promote the use of info-communications technology in the Sultanate, particularly the e-government, Brunei will soon see the WiMAX coming into service.

WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access) is a telecommunications technology that provides for the wireless transmission of data using a number of transmission modes from point-to point links to portable Internet access.

Technical Support Engineer Kevin Chua of the POS DATA System Engineering Team yesterday demonstrated to the media how the service works as reporters were taken around the Berakas area in a moving bus.

With an LCD TV screen connected to a laptop, Kevin demonstrated how the Internet was able to multitask by showing a BBC live radio broadcast, live video chat with POS DATA colleagues in Korea

and MTV music videos, while streaming at 1 mbps.

With connection through a USB modem, Korea currently offers the service at 3 - 5 mbps per user depending on the connector.

Promoting the service, AITI is now opening tender for WiMAX and hopes that the service will commence by next year.

WiMAX uses IP based technology whereas mobile phones are based on radio frequency. The highest speed noted for the WiMAX is 300 mbps.

In other words, the Brunei community will soon be able to go online using their laptops anywhere, anytime and even on the move as long as they stay in range with the antenna, which can cover an area ranging 500 metres to 15 kilometres.

The WiMAX - which acts as a Wi-Fi hotspot connector - can even be used in a vehicle travelling at speeds of more than 120 km/h.

According to Mr Chua, several Malaysian states have already started using the network service since August 2008. These are mostly commercial areas, business districts, government officers and shopping areas all close to each other.

Whereas in Singapore, Qmax - a service provided by POS DATA - offers network services from the city out into the sea, which is aimed especially for those in the shipping industry.

David Bae, the Manager at Flyvo System Business Department, PUS DATA, said Korea commercialised the use of the service in 2006, adding that Brunei is not at all behind in technology. The service costs customers only B$20 dollars a month in Korea.

AITI is currently holding a WiMAX exhibition for the general public in its bid to promote awareness on the e-application potential. The exhibition is held at AITI from Mondays to Fridays from 2.30 - 4.30 pm until December 10. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin