The WiBE (Wireless Broadband Enabler) uses multi-beam antenna technology to extend the range and throughput of a 3G mobile network. This allows the 3G network to be a viable option for fast Internet access, bringing speeds of up to 7.2 Mbps, and an average of at least 2 Mbps in rural areas.
Rajesh Agarwal, sales director for Entuple said:
“Broadband is starting to take off in India, but fixed line download speeds are still slow, typically 512Kbps. 3G is being rolled out quickly in cities and offers a far greater potential for bringing India online.
“Major cities such as Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore are the first to receive 3G coverage, however a lot of investment is being made and this means even remote villages will have access to the 3G networks within 18 to 24 months.”
Andrew Fox, CEO of Deltenna commented that, in India, “there are just 10 million ADSL lines versus over half a billion cellphones. The new 3G licenses, combined with the WiBE, means people across the country can finally access content such as YouTube, which requires large amounts of bandwidth.”
Great efforts are being made by developing countries to increase broadband speeds and create an infrastructure which allows citizens to fully exploit the opportunities afforded by the web. UNESCAP Committee on Information and Communications Technology recently held a summit in Thailand to discuss ways of expediting faster internet connections in the Asia Pacific region.
Countries such as Australia have opted for a 3G network to overcome cabling issues in rural areas, including the problem of scalable costs for low-density populations. Developing countries have a much greater dependence on mobile connections, which gives further weight to the choice of 3G to deliver internet services.
