Wintel brings wireless broadband to TT

In an initial contract deal valued at $6 million US dollars, Navini Networks, Inc, West Indian Telecommunications Inc (WINTEL) and Allplus Computer Systems last week announced the deployment of the first non-line-of-sight (NLOS) wireless broadband network to serve customers in Trinidad and Tobago.

The deployment will be the first ubiquitous broadband service in the area and will feature NLOS multi-megabit performance over the entire country, starting with the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, Port-of-Spain. After evaluating numerous solutions, WINTEL selected Navini’s Ripwave (TM) system for this deployment, offering customers multi-megabit network speeds, a zero-install (TM) plug-and-play modem, and untethered broadband access anywhere within the coverage area. The WINTEL offering will include broadband data and voice services in an always-on system providing uninterrupted broadband access, which will be extremely customer-friendly in its deployment due to its NLOS, zero-install proposition. WINTEL will initially offer the wireless broadband services to business customers under the brand name “Nomad Ripwave.” Within a year, WINTEL plans to further expand its broadband data and voice services into the residential markets throughout all of Trinidad and Tobago.

“We are still in the early stages of growth for broadband data services here in Trinidad and Tobago, and there is great potential for mobile high-speed broadband service for the corporate and entrepreneurial market with the Nomad Ripwave system. At present, there are limited options available and limiting factors for service, especially for those wanting broadband access from various locations. It is our intent to provide solutions for these problems with a cost-effective network capable of service-level make good business sense both to us and our customers,” said Cedric Branche, chairman of WINTEL. “Field trials and initial market thrust with the Nomad Ripwave demonstrated exceptional performance and a degree of excitement in our target niches confirming our early assessments that Navini offers the most complete and effective solution with real performance and capability — ideal for the quality and productivity-conscious corporate and business leaders in Trinidad and Tobago who are keen to effectively compete in the global marketplace. The stuff really works,” stated Peter Fung Kee Fung, head of customer strategic development for WINTEL.

Allplus Computer Systems is both the reselling and deployment partner for WINTEL, assaulting the service provider with their equipment, installation and operational needs. “For several years now, we have been looking for a wireless last mile solution that delivers on its promises, and we have found that solution with the Navini Networks technology. Allplus Computer Systems is finally able to take a complete last mile wireless broadband solution to the entire Caribbean and Latin American regions. In teaming with WINTEL to deploy the Navini Networks solution in Trinidad and Tobago, we are confident it is just the first among many Navini deployments throughout the region,” said Wilson Cruz, Executive Director of Sales and Marketing for Allplus Computer Systems. “Allplus and WINTEL share our vision of delivering cost-effective, convenient and powerful wireless broadband to businesses and consumers,” said Alastair Westgarth, president and CEO, Navini Networks. “This contract, along with several other recent endorsements of Navini’s technology, is further validation of Navini’s commitment to making wireless broadband accessible to everyone, everywhere, including the Caribbean islands.”