Intel Capital has signed two WiMAX agreements: the first is for an investment in Orascom Telecom WiMAX Limited, a joint venture with Orascom Telecom of Egypt, and the second is for an investment in Worldmax, a joint venture with Enertel Holding of the Netherlands.

Both deals are collaborations between Intel Capital and established telecommunications companies. Orascom TelecomWiMAX will focus its efforts on working with governments and companies throughout the Middle East and parts of Asia to obtain suitable spectrum licenses for the deployment of WiMAX services. Worldmax is targeting the deployment of WiMAX services in the Netherlands. In addition to funding and personnel, Enertel is also contributing an existing nationwide 80 MHz at 3.5 GHz spectrum license to support this new joint venture. Both new companies will be majority-owned by Orascom Telecom of Egypt and Enertel Holding respectively, with Intel Capital as the lead investor. Intel Capital will also provide access to the technical and marketing resources of Intel Corporation.

Over the past year, Intel Capital has announced investments in a number of WiMAX and wireless broadband service providers around the world including: PIPEX Wireless in the United Kingdom, DBD in Germany, Unwired Australia, Neovia in Brazil and MVSNet in Mexico. Intel Capital has also been active in supporting WiMAX infrastructure development through investments in Navini Networks, a provider of WiMAX basestations and modems, and Beceem Communications, a provider of mobile WiMAX chipsets.

“We see the creation of this new wireless service provider as an incredible opportunity to provide new services to major cities in the Netherlands,” said Cees Meeuwis, Enertel executive chairman. “Worldmax will offer wireless access and services through a wholesale relationship with a number of resale channels in the Dutch market. This wireless broadband access service will uniquely complement the existing fixed-line broadband access services already offered in the Netherlands.”

“Orascom Telecom WiMAX Limited is an exciting first step towards bringing the advantages and opportunity of Internet connectivity to the people of the Middle East, and beyond, many of whom have never had such an opportunity before,” said Franco Grimaldi, CEO of Orascom Telecom WiMAX.