WiMax provider Imagine has launched a new 10 megabits per second (Mbps) broadband service following the completion of phase 1 of its 4G WiMax phone and broadband network across Ireland.
The company has deployed WiMax in Dublin and in a number of regional towns, including Sligo, Dundalk, Tralee and Wexford.
The 10Mbps service comes with a free phone service and prices start at €25 per month. The broadband product and the ‘Free for Life’ phone service, the company says, saves households an estimated €400 a year.
Imagine says 30,000 customers have subscribed to WiMax in the first year of it being available, with a significant number of households pre-registered for the service in advance of it arriving in their area.
WiMax speeds of 100Mbps on the way?
“Imagine WiMax’s 10Mbps product is a compelling proposition for households and apartments countrywide. When compared to Eircom’s 8Mbps service, WiMax is 20pc faster and over 30pc cheaper,” said Imagine director Brian O’Donohoe.
“Our customers have a richer and purer broadband experience from WiMax and our network is managed daily to ensure that the highest possible speeds and the best possible service is provided.”
O’Donohoe also added that 10Mbps is not the limit, but just the start. “WiMax is designed to provide speeds of up to 100Mbps and these speeds are well on their way to Ireland, thanks to WiMax.”
Headed by Sean Bolger, the Imagine Group has substantial business operations in Europe, with overall network reach extending to Ireland, the UK, the Netherlands, Austria, Norway and the US. In Ireland, Imagine provides services to 17,000 businesses. Imagine also provides residential customers across the country with the Imagine, Gaelic Telecom, Access and Cinergi brands.
In the US, a national roll out of WiMax is under way, supported by Google, Intel, Comcast and Time Warner. Some 475 WiMax networks were deployed in 140 countries as of April 2009 and more than 50m users are expected in 2014.
