National WiMax coverage edges closer

Antennae on the roofs of hotels, offices and even gyms could hold the key to creating a nationwide WiMax network for the UK, according to transmission site developer Macropolitan.

The company has signed a deal with Alcatel-Lucent to provide access to its 8,900 antennae sites across the UK. According to the companies, the idea is to provide an operator with a "turn key" service that could be rolled out without the need to set up equipment, acquire sites or even obtain planning consent.

Most of the Macropolitan sites are in or around cities: the company has signed leases for mast sites with the Travelodge and Premier Travel Inn hotel chains, gym operators David Lloyd Leisure and Fitness First, and Network Rail.

"Our network is not national, in the sense of covering the entire population," said Macropolitan's chief executive Ryan Jarvis.

"But we are in every city and almost every town. The deal with Alcatel-Lucent is for our entire portfolio, so it can build a multi-city network."

The Macropolitan sites are suitable for both fixed and mobile WiMax equipment, according to Jarvis.

Possible deployments range from consumer services such as high-bandwidth, mobile internet access for services such as gaming to security and law enforcement applications such as CCTV. The current deal is not exclusive to Alcatel-Lucent: other operators or network services companies could also install their equipment on Macropolitan's sites.

The deal has, however, lead to speculation that Alcatel-Lucent has lined up a significant customer to deploy WiMax.

This could be an existing cellular or fixed telecoms operator, or possibly a specialist company providing services to the public sector.

"I don't know if Alcatel-Lucent has a figurehead customer [lined up] but it is unlikely that Macropolitan has signed this deal as a loss leader," said Rob Bamforth, of industry analysts Quocirca.

"Macropolitan has good sites so is in a strong negotiating position so any deal will have been done on solid commercial terms. This suggests that Alcatel-Lucent has a strong customer lined up."

Bamforth added that a "blue light" emergency service or another government department as launch customer would boost the credibility of WiMax, because public sector organisations are often conservative in their adoption of new technologies.

"A deal like this certainly pushes forward the case for WiMax," he added.

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