February 18, 2006
Mobile operators set sights on last frontier
Anyone who considers travel to remote parts of the globe or in a plane as a refuge from mobile phone calls should enjoy it while it lasts, because areas until now out of reach are set to get connected. Reuters reports from 3GSM.
"A new generation of mobile networks is being built out of boxes no bigger than a microwave oven that are extending the reach of traditional networks of base stations, satellites and masts to places not worth the attention of big operators.
At this week's 3GSM wireless trade show in Barcelona, a crop of start-up and more established firms showed off technology that can be packed up and carried off to just about anywhere to connect hundreds of people at a time.
-- Israel-based Alvarion, better known for its WiMax broadband wireless technology, is one of the companies expanding into this niche but growing market.
-- Connexion by Boeing has installed high-speed Internet access via WiFi in some planes for airlines including Lufthansa, and rival Airbus is part of a consortium working on an on-board GSM system.
-- Ireland-based Altobridge, which provides call-by-call satellite connections from a small box that can be installed on board.
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