Lucent preaches NN's strategy, Intel preaches NN's strategy, NN has the goods but few know it.
Ah, well, some day. . .
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Intel invests in wireless broadband business
By Mary Lisbeth D'Amico
InfoWorld Electric
Posted at 8:36 AM PT, Sep 14, 1999
Intel has made an undisclosed investment in Formus Communications, a U.S.-based company that has interests in broadband wireless access companies in Europe and Latin America.
In a statement Monday, Intel said the move will help Formus expand its networks and broadband coverage for small and medium-size businesses, and increase its business activities in Europe.
Intel officials could not be immediately reached for further comment.
Broadband wireless access provides users a lower-cost alternative to fixed-line local phone networks and leased lines for data, often still operated by former monopoly carriers in Europe. Users can receive voice, data, multimedia, and Internet services at speeds starting at around 2Mbps. Due to their cost, such services are mainly aimed at corporate users.
Denver-based Formus specializes in building and maintaining networks based on WLL-PMP technology (wireless local loop-point to multipoint), which uses frequencies in the areas of 3.5 GHz and 26.6 GHz. Traffic is transmitted via radio signal from a building to a nearby base station, from which it can then be sent on to a number of other points.
Formus has launched commercial broadband wireless access services in Poland, has trial projects underway in France and Hungary, where it hasn't yet gained permanent licenses, and has a license to operate in Finland, according to information on the company Web site. Formus also holds interests in VeloCom, which holds broadband licenses in Colombia, Peru and Argentina, and Brazil.
Separately, in a statement last week, Formus said it has purchased the remaining share in Callino, a German wireless access provider in which it already owned a share, from Chase Capital Partners. Callino launched telephone services for German consumers earlier this year, and is building an IP-based network from which it will offer corporate users broadband services, through a combination of wireless and fixed-line networks.
In Germany, former monopoly carrier Deutsche Telekom still owns 90 percent of the local phone network. Seeking to increase competition in the local loop, German regulators in August awarded 12 licensed carriers with frequencies for operating wireless local loop networks.
Formus Communications, in Denver, can be reached at www.formus.net. Intel Corp., in Santa Clara, Calif., can be reached at www.intel.com.
Mary Lisbeth D'Amico is a correspondent in the Munich, Germany, bureau of the IDG News Service, an InfoWorld affilate.
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