Gigantic Mobile WiMAX Win for Soma Networks in India

Posted Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:23:18 EST by Philip Solis

Soma Networks has scored what can be easily considered one of the largest 802.16e wins to date.   The contract is with India's BSNL (Bharat Sanchar Nigam, Ltd) for a fixed-use network (CPE), but it's easy to imagine portable applications working their way in as well.  There is a five year buildout plan in place.  The networks will cover three of the nation's (subcontinent's) wealthiest states with a rapidly growing middle class:

  • Gujarat
  • Maharashtra and Goa
  • Andhra Pradesh
These states officially comprise over 210 million people, but it has been estimated by some that the number may be closer to 250 million people.  Soma performed trials in urban, suburban, and rural areas and competed against larger mobile WiMAX vendors to win the contract.  BSNL trialed both 802.16d and 802.16e equipment.

This is a huge win for Soma Networks, for mobile WiMAX in India, and for mobile WiMAX in general.