Gulfsat Madagascar will expand its current network using Alvarion’s BreezeMAX.

With this expansion, Alvarion is strenght its position in Africa, after Ghana Telecom’s broadband wireless network development.

Since 2003, Gulfsat has been providing broadband services to corporate subscribers using Alvarion’s BreezeACCESS® OFDM system operating in 3.5 GHz. The addition of the BreezeMAX network, also operating at 3.5 GHz, is part of the operator’s strategy to target residential subscribers with greater coverage and increased capacity. As part of the deployment, Gulfsat plans to use Alvarion’s BreezeMAX PRO customer premise equipment (CPE) that uses the Intel® PRO/Wireless 5116 WiMAX chip. BreezeMAX™ is Alvarion’s WiMAX platform designed from the ground up according to the IEEE 802.16 standards and uses OFDM technology for advanced non-line-of-sight (NLOS) functionality.

“We are excited to be the first service provider to bring WiMAX to Madagascar,� said Mr. Mohib Pirbay, CEO of Gulfsat Madagascar. “Initially, this network will offer broadband services to residential subscribers in the capital city of Antananarivo, adding to our current base of corporate customers. We look forward to accelerating growth in this market segment with Alvarion in the future.�

“We are pleased that Gulfsat Madagascar has again selected Alvarion for its network needs joining many other innovative carriers in Africa and elsewhere in deploying the most popular WiMAX system in the world,� commented Tzvika Friedman, CEO and president of Alvarion.