Pre-standard WiMAX Service Launched In Chicago

Wireless broadband provider TowerStream said Tuesday it has launched fixed wireless service in the downtown Chicago area.

The system uses pre-standard 802.16, or WiMAX, equipment developed by Aperto Networks, according to Mike Manning, a company spokesperson.

Because WiMAX-certified equipment isn't yet shipping, the company technically can't say it is complying with that standard, Manning said.

"They're just getting a jump on it," Manning said. "They'll be WiMAX certified when the time comes."

Vendors such as Intel have said they'll be shipping WiMAX-complaint hardware in the second half of this year.TowerStream has gotten a long lead on the standard, however: Besides Chicago, it also has the technology in operation in Boston, New York and the Newport/Providence area on the east coast.

The antenna is on top of the Aon Center in downtown Chicago and has a range of 10 miles. The first two to three miles of range provide non-line of site access, according to Manning.

Overall, the company says it has 600 enterprise customers for the technology in its four markets. It offers the service at T1, T3 and 100 Mbps connection speeds.