Mobile telephone service provider DIGICEL has announced that it has entered into an agreement with ZTE Corp of China to install its WiMAX mobile broadband Internet network. Scheduled to launch mid-2010 the service will initially cover 60 per cent of Jamaica's population.

Earlier this month Digicel Jamaica's CEO Mark Linehan announced that the company was set to adopt 4G technology and that it would be concentrating on offering a broadband service that would introduce WiMAX to Jamaica.

Transmitted on the 2.5GHz frequency, the WiMAX rollout comes at a cost of US$22.7 million ($2 billion) to the Caribbean-based telecommunications company.

ZTE - which claims to be the world market leader in WiMAX deployment - will deploy the network rollout plan, which includes: network planning and design; equipment supply; customer premise devices such as modems and USBs; installation and maintenance.

"We are delighted to be building the country's first nationwide WiMAX network in partnership with ZTE. Its leading product solutions and world-class technology experts will help us ensure that Digicel Broadband provides the best coverage, the best value and the best service in the wireless broadband market in Jamaica," said Linehan...

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