afrol News, 12 January - The 'CyberIsland' of Mauritius within the two next months is to become the first country worldwide getting a complete nationwide broadband wireless access. 1.2 million potential users will get connected to wireless internet at home, at work, at school or on the beach through a network of "smart antennas" with a wide range of coverage.

ADB Networks - a major independent service and support provider headquartered in Mauritius - is the main Internet Service Provider in the island state. ADB Networks has ordered the installation of the nationwide system from the Texan company Navini Networks, according to a statement from the latter company, issued today.

- Navini Networks provided us with a very compelling value proposition for our market, commented Rizwan Rahim, chief executive officer of ADB Networks. "With portable service for subscribers throughout the island, competitive pricing and plug and play as soon as the customer receives the modem, usually the same day that they order service."

The Mauritian company had looked at other high speed broadband options "and in our scenario, DSL and cable modem were not viable options," said Mr Rahim. "The rugged terrain of Mauritius requires a solution with no line of sight and cost effective deployment," he added. With the Texan nomadic broadband wireless access, "we can deliver broadband where it didn't exist, virtually overnight," Mr Rahim explained.

Roger Dorf, President of Navini Networks, shared the optimism. "With Navini's portable wireless broadband access, the entire island of Mauritius will now be completely unwired," he said. "In addition, they will be superbly positioned to take advantage of next generation mobile broadband wireless access, 802.16e-based WiMAX."

- This is the first step in bringing true portable mobile broadband wireless access to Mauritius, said Mr Rahim. "Navini's network provides instant high speed access to 1.2 million potential users and delivers unprecedented contiguous coverage of more than 100 square miles to meet residential, business and recreational needs of the entire island," he added.

The new wireless broadband technology solution is said to unwire Mauritius and to "benefit businesses, residences and tourists immediately." The Navini wide-area wireless broadband system is a Non Line of Sight (NLOS) WWAN solution powered by smart antennas. The technology provides a very wide range of coverage - several kilometres from the base station. With a zero-install solution, it takes little effort for the subscriber to get up and running.

According to Mr Dorf, "plug and play broadband access is the perfect solution since traditional solutions like DSL couldn't deliver a business case given the rugged terrain of Mauritius." He adds that his company will offer "complete and instant portability to keep subscribers connected anywhere" on the island.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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