Sunday, March 11, 2007

Mainly for residents

Stephan Bergmann, CEO of aeromax has kindly posted this comment to me which explains the difference between WiMAX and systems which utilise WiFi for connectivity.

Hello,

the difference between aeromax and clearcom/bigastel is, that aeromax does WiMAX and the other two do Wi-Fi. The difference is the quality: WiMAX is working always at the same high and stable level, QoS including. E.g. the 512kbps of aeromax has a guarantee of 25% and it normally works at 460-480 kbps bidirectionally(!). Telephone service at aeromax is done over TDM, so "real phone connection" giving you a very high quality of speech, incl. Fax service. aeromax offers carrier class service.

Thank you for your attention.

Greetings
Stephan Bergmann, CEO of aeromax

As Stephan point out, the Clear Comms. system to our estate is a hybrid one i.e. the connection to the Pedrera is via microwaves and from there to our houses via wireless. The speed we get varies but is normally 890 + Kbps download and 190+Kbps upload. Telephony via a VoIP phone is very good but not carrier class.

The Bigastel system will be purely wireless from the town to each house.

It is fair to point out that WiFi connections are used successfully throughout the world to provide access in private situations, in commercial settings and to whole towns and cities. The reason for the popularity of this service is probably because many laptop computers now have a WiFi card built in making roaming access simple. As far as I know, it would not be possible to roam with a microwave system because the antenna used is highly directional. It is also fair to point out that the standards for wireless connection have improved significantly over the last few years and continue to improve.

However, both Aeromax and Clear Comms. will tell you, that for the best quality of service, you need an ADSL(2) connection i.e. via a copper or better still fibre cable as close to the exchange as possible. In those circumstances speeds of 10Mbps and much higher are achievable. A higher speed connection is necessary if you want to watch streaming TV and video at full screen sizes but is overkill if all you want to do is send the odd email.

As the Bigastel site explains, Bigastro are initially providing a service to the centre of the town. The company that are installing the system though can easily extend it. The Ayuntamiento are keen to provide a service for ALL citizens in Bigastro and are therefore prepared to extend the service if there is the demand.

I think even Stephan would admit that a 1Mb wireless service for 120€ per year is the best value for money you will ever achieve. There is no set up fee nor any equipment to loan.

You can indicate your interest in Bigastel by clicking on the link which takes you to the online form.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wireless technology always functions via microwave. If I am well informed, clearcom is using Satellite and/or ADSL services to connect their basestations (and so: their wireless clients via Wi-Fi) to Internet. What aeromax does is connect its basestations via dedicated, leased lines. aeromax never uses ADSL or Satellite, because their is no guarantee on this kind of services. It's true, that the service (Internet, telephony, fax...) provided by aeromax is dedicated to the residential market, and we would never say, that best solutions is ADSL and/or fibre, because the used technology WiMAX is just design to do the connection of the client over the "last mile" - also at distances beyond 25 km. Wi-Fi is a technology developed for indoor solutions. Of course, quality can be raised (with special equipment), but imho the QoS (quality of service) will never be the same as on WiMAX service (now only speeking of microwave tech, admitting that the best solution you could have is fibre-to-the-home/building).
And as I don't know the service Bigastel is offering with its 1mbps @ 120 EUR /year, I cannot give you any opinion, even as they (Bigastel) say on their webpage, that you can use any(!) Wi-Fi endpoint with them to use the service. So, quality of service up to the clients' site never can be guaranteed by Bigastel, but that is what aeromax does using its exclusive WiMAX and telephony equipment.

Thanks again for your attention.

Greetings
Stephan Bergmann, CEO of aeromax

Be the one said...

As the Bigastel site explains, Bigastro are initially providing a service to the centre of the town. The company that are installing the system though can easily extend it. The Ayuntamiento are keen to provide a service for ALL citizens in Bigastro and are therefore prepared to extend the service if there is the demand.


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